The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has revealed that his administration was able to save almost N1.2 billion in one month as a result of the administration's first screening and payroll audit. Remember that the government recently revealed that over 2,500 phantom workers were detected on its payroll as a result of that exercise.
The Governor told an extended caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Makurdi over the weekend that the discovery made during the initial exercise should be a subject of worry for everyone.
He regretted that the procedure had caused a delay in the payment of teachers and local government employees, but assured that wages were already being paid as he spoke.
He explained that the screening was very import for the administration and the people because “the state government has saved N1.2billion from fetching out 2,500 ghost workers and many more things are being uncovered.
“What that means is that what was paid to teachers as N1.6billion will now be N800 million monthly.”
The Governor who assured that his administration would ensure that leakages that existed before now were blocked sued for the support and cooperation of the people of the state to help the government achieve its set goals.
While assuring that the screening and audit exercise would continue, the Governor said “the committee would continue its duties until all those who are milking the state are identified and made to return what they took from the people.”