Forensic Analysis Can Boost Efficiency In Gratuity Payments In C'River, Says Expert
Director, International Academy of Forensic (IAF), Dr. Damilola Fagboro, has stated that the use of forensic analysis could boost Cross River efficiency in gratuity payments.
Fagboro, stayed this on Thursday in Calabar in an interview with journalists during an ongoing five day training on forensic analysis and data mining for senior staff of Cross River's Accountant General's office, recalled that the payment of gratuity was a challenge in Cross River for over 10 years until the administration of Gov. Bassey Otu came onboard and released N10 billion for the payment gratuities.
However, due to poor record keeping and irregularities, some retirees were coming to be paid gratuities more than once which was creating confusion.
The director said the use of biometric forensics would have seamlessly solved the problem of gratuities payment in the state if it was used.
"With biometric forensics, the fingerprint, face, the day the gratuity was paid, the bank it was paid into and even if the person who should claim the gratuity is late, it would all be sorted.
"When forensics is institutionalised, no one will have the confidence to come back for another gratuity when he had collected once," he said.
Speaking further, Fagboro said forensics which was different from audit because of its application of science and technology principles was required in every aspects of life to ensure credibility and not just in criminal cases.
He however decried the issue of quackery which had bedevilled the profession, adding that training, certification and continuous development were the ways to go to enhance professionalism in the field.
On her part, the Accountant General of Cross River, Mrs Glory Effiong said the training became necessary to bring her staff up to speed with the current realities of their positions and to enhance efficiency.
"When I came in as the Accountant General, I noticed a huge training gap because a number of staff who were trained over the years had retired and the new hands had some level of deficiency.
"It is important to state that if you don't get your staff to know the basics in their position, the day you need them to do simple bank reconciliation, they would remain there because they don't know how to do it,," she said.
She added that she expects better performance from the staff after the training.
