Borno saves N5.5b from ghost workers, pensioners in 2017

The Borno State Government has saved N5.5 billion from 11,876 ghost workers and pensioners, after a verification and biometric data exercise of serving and retired workers.

The state had a total workforce of 27,971 with a monthly wage bill of N2.219 billion before the exercise, while 12, 951 pensioners were collecting N2.219 billion monthly before the exercise.

Chairman, Workers’ Verification and Biometric Data Capture Committee, Usman Jidda Shuwa, disclosed this yesterday, while submitting his report to Governor Kashim Shettima at Government House, Maiduguri.

He said the committee, whose work lasted three years, had concluded its report and arrived at a monthly wage bill of N1.787 billion, thereby saving the state N432 million monthly.

Shuwa, who is also Secretary to the State Government (SSG), pointed out that after the verification, the total number of civil servants on government’s payroll now stood at 20,615.

“We have identified and flushed out 7,356 ghost workers, including 4,220 ghost pensioners that drew 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.”

Shuwa said: “The committee’s report recommended that there should be reorganisation of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Pensions Office.

“There should be a review of the organisational structure of all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). The position of ministerial secretary should be scrapped, while regular promotion examinations should be 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 government’s payroll.”

While receiving the report, Governor Shettima assured the committee that its recommendations would be forwarded to state council for the issuance of a white paper for urgent implementation.