C'River LG Staff Audit Not Plot To victimize Workers, Says Eyo
The Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission in Cross River State Darlington Eyo says the staff audit for local government workers is not aimed at victimization of any staff.
The chairman disclosed this following the completion of a state-wide audit and verification of staff of the Unified Local Government System.
The chairman underscored the importance of the exercise which according to him is aimed at removing ghost workers in the over bloated payroll, reduce wage bill and creating more job opportunities.
"When we resumed at the commission, we were faced with the challenge of over-bloated payroll.
"Even with the high rate of attrition, people retiring in droves, the wage bill remained high up there. The issue of ghost workers was rampant as people worked in other places or have absconded, but still draw salaries from the local governments.
Local Government staff during the audit exercise
"This is not intended to inflict pains on anyone, we must ensure that the entire system is sanitized, to create room for others to come in", he said.
Speaking further, he said he met an almost empty service and the governor graciously approved employment and the recruitment process is completed and successful candidates are already working and receiving salaries.
"When we came in, the unemployment rate in the state was also very high. Local governments were almost empty. So We appealed to the governor to allow us to employ which he graciously and expressly approved.
"The recruitment process has been concluded and successful applicants have started receiving salaries. This is a form of empowerment which is based on the People-First mantra. It is better than dishing handouts which is not sustainable enough. With this, you can work for 35 years and build a career", he said.
The chairman dismissed allegations of widespread job racketeering in the recruitment process and warned of severe consequences for any one indicted. He so stressed that nobody has been given any mandate to carry out recruitment on behalf of the commission.
The chairman had earlier announced that over 4000 workers have been recruited into the local government service in the state by the present administration.
