The Abia State Government has announced significant cost savings of 220 million naira on its monthly wage bills as a result of an ongoing verification exercise in the state's civil service. Deaconess Njum Onyemenam, the Accountant General of the state, shared this information after a meeting with Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia on Monday.
The Accountant General highlighted that these substantial savings were achieved through the implementation of a unified payment system. The verification exercise, which is still in progress, aims to further identify areas where additional savings can be made.
According to the Accountant General, the ongoing verification process has already led to the removal of approximately 2,300 ghost names from the state's payrolls. By using the unified payment system, the government has been able to effectively weed out fraudulent entries. With the exercise still underway, the state anticipates uncovering more cases of payroll irregularities and making further savings.
Furthermore, the Accountant General confirmed that the state government has taken swift action to address outstanding financial commitments. Following Governor Otti's directive, the government recently cleared the arrears of April salaries left behind by the previous administration. Additionally, June pensions were disbursed to retirees, reflecting the government's commitment to meeting its financial obligations.
Addressing concerns related to the payment of June salaries for local government staff, the Accountant General explained that those who had not received their salaries due to their alleged failure to submit verified payment schedules will receive their overdue payments this week. The government is dedicated to ensuring that all employees receive their rightful compensation in a timely manner.
The ongoing verification exercise in Abia State demonstrates the government's commitment to financial transparency, accountability, and efficient resource management. By weeding out ghost workers and streamlining payment systems, the state is making significant strides towards reducing wastage and ensuring that public funds are used effectively for the benefit of the people.
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