Borno saves N5.5 million from ghost workers

The Borno State Government has saved N5.5 billion from 11,876 ghost workers and pensioners, after a committee’s verification and biometric data exercise of serving and retired workers.The initial total workforce in the state before the exercise stood at 27,971 with a monthly wage bill of N2.219 billion, while 12, 951 pensioners were collecting N2.219 billion monthly pension payments before the exercise.

The chairman of workers’ verification and biometric data capture committee, Usman Jidda Shuwa disclosed this recently when he submitted his report to Governor Kashim Shettima at Government House, Maiduguri.He said that the three-year old committee has concluded its report for submission, with a total monthly wage bill of N1.787 billion, hence saving N432 million per month.

According to him, 8,731 ghost pensioners were also flushed out to save N30 million monthly pension payments to retirees.“Your Excellency, this committee has concluded its verifications and biometric data capture exercise. The state’s monthly wage bill now stood at N1.787 billion, instead of N2.219 billion paid to a total workforce of 27,971 every month,” said Shuwa in the report, who also serves as Secretary to the State Government.”

He said after the workers’ and pensioners’ verification exercise, the total number of civil servants on the payrolls of state government is 20,615.The Shuwa report added: “We have identified and flushed out 7,356 ghost workers, including 4,220 ghost pensioners that draw a monthly pension of N390 million.

“The monthly salaries and pensions of serving and verified retired workers in Borno state stood at N2.177 million instead of N2.639 billion before the verification and biometric data capture was concluded.”

On the report’s recommendations, Shuwa said: “The committee’s report recommended that there should be reorganizations of Ministry of Finance and Planning, and the Pension Office. There should be a review of the organizational structure of all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The position of Ministerial Secretary is scrapped, while promotional examinations are introduced.

“There should also massive employment of qualified teachers and creation of special biometric unit in the Office of Head of Service (HoS). This is to further check more ghost workers and pensioners on payrolls of government.”While receiving the report, Governor Shettima assured the committee that the report’s recommendations would be forwarded to state council for the issuance of a white paper for implementation.