Some Benue State senior civil servants found culpable for salary padding in the State will soon be dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for investigation and prosecution.
The State Governor, Hyacinth Alia stated this Friday through his media aide, when he received members of the Correspondents’ Chapel in the State.
Information Nigeria had reported that the government disclosed that about 2,500 ghost workers were uncovered during the State’s ongoing staff audit.
Other anomalies found, according to the statement issued by Tersoo were ghost schools, double-dipping, unlawful employment, salary padding, and payment to dead and retired individuals, among other infractions.
Tersoo in a chat with newsmen said that “probity, accountability and transparency were the hallmark of the present administration.”
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He cautioned that the public should not to be taken aback when the anti-graft agency starts inviting some high-ranking civil servants in the State for questioning.
According to him, the ongoing staff audit exposed that some of the workers only existed on the payrolls while many others, especially the senior civil servants were collecting salary in three different places at the same time from the state government, the local government and at the State Universal Basic Education Board.
“We already know some of them and they have been removed from the entire payroll. We are waiting for them to report that they have not been paid.
“Those who were collecting double salary as senior staff will be handed over to the EFCC for investigation and possible prosecution,” Tersoo said.
He however expressed optimism that the ongoing exercise will expose more people behind the civil service racketeering and that perpetrators would be made to answer for their crimes.
