23rd November, 2010
It has been uncovered that names of dead civil servants and retirees under the employ of the Lagos State Government, South West Nigeria are still on the payroll of government long after they have been confirmed dead or retired.
Also on the payroll are some officers who have left the civil service through resignation, withdrawal of service, abscondment and dismissal.  Salaries are still being paid to them as their names are still on the oracle database of the state government.
To correct this anomaly, the Governor Babatunde Fashola administration has ordered a monthly staff audit of all workers in order to remove ghost workers and stop payment of salaries to some unscrupulous civil servants using the names of dead staff and retirees to enrich themselves.
Every ministry, agency, parastatal and other affiliated government bodies are now to carry out compulsory monthly staff audit before salaries are paid to staff, while Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments would now be held responsible for such crooked act.
A circular from the Public Service Office, PSO has gone to all ministries, agencies and others on this issue and officrs directed to comply with it promptly.
According to the circular, with ref. number Cir/HOS/10/Vol.1/103, “it has been observed that some officers who had exited the service through retirement, resignation, withdrawal of service, abscondment, dismissal and death are still on the oracle data base of the state government.
“This is worrisome as it questions the validity of the staff audit exercise carried out on bi-annual basis to cleanse the system. It is in view of the above that all ministries, agencies, departments are hereby enjoined to carry out monthly verification exercise of their staff until further notice.â€
The circular added: “Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies of government will henceforth be held responsible for not deleting from their payroll the names of staff that had exited from the service.â€
The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary, PSO, Mr. Lateef Abari.
Last month, the Committee on Wage Determination and Pay Policy for Civil Servants set up by the governor had recommended the audit of all staff within the civil service to ascertain the actual number of staff money should be paid to.
Before the end of this week, all professional drivers within the civil service are to appear physically for verification.
P.M.NEWS gathered that this will be used to ascertain the number of drivers still working with the state government.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga
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