By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State has cautioned opposition groups in the state to stop politicising the issue of alleged payroll fraud in the State Civil Service following the recent discovery of 718 fake appointments in the state.
According to Kpodoh, though the discovery is coming at a critical time when the administration is enjoying the support of the State workers and pensioners over the timely payment of salaries and pensions, the verification exercise and discoveries of payroll fraud is a continuous exercise by successive administrations.
Chief Perekeme Kpodoh, while reacting to the recent claims by the opposition groups over alleged plan by the Governor Douye Diri administration to sack state workers, said the planned sack is not a political move against members of political parties or section of the State, “but a constitutional actions against fraud and forgery in the civil service.”
According to him, “In almost every state of the federation, it is mandatory for every successive administration to review its workforce and ensure those serving the state are expected to be qualified and pass the litmus screening test. It is not a political action but one expected to guard against payroll fraud and stealing from the state. “
“Gov. Douye Diri administration, like many of his counterparts in the PDP and APC including the President Buhari led administration are embarking on checks and re-check of their payroll lists in order to guard against fraud in the state.
He called on the Chairman of Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Peter Singabele to meet with various stakeholders including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders to discuss and review the report of the Committee on Verification of Appointment Letters,” in order to avoid controversies and negative sentiments being dropped from the camps of opposition.”
DailyWatch reports that the state government has commenced intensive verification exercise to review the employment status of civil servants, adding that the government has identified culprits for the alleged forging of the signature of the former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and Permanent Secretary of the Civil Service Commission.
