By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/ Lafia
Nasarawa state house Assembly uncovers ghost workers and other abnormalities in LGS
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, says it has uncovered 30 abnormalities in the local government system in the state.
Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House revealed this during deliberation on a report to look into the staff salaries and other finances of local governments in the state.
The speaker who said that the refusal of some staff to submit themselves for the screening exercise at their respective local government levels is uncalled for, adding that the screening exercise will continue consecutively for the next three months in the state.
Hon. Ibrahim said “Some of the abnormalities discovered are- Ministry for local government prepares Payment Vouchers(PVs) instead of local government and they produces two PVs to siphon monies’
He further stressed that “There are several ghost workers and these ghost workers are being allocated to directors and Education Secretaries grade levels and there is no audit report since 2016 of the local government in the state.
“The committee discovered abnormalities especially conflicting figures for pensioners between state and local government.
“There are duplication of names and arbitrary implementation of grade levels and steps.
“Despite ban on promotions,there are arbitrary promotions of some local government staff,especially teachers without following due process among others.
“Before the screening exercise as directed by the state Assembly, only four local government can conveniently pay their salaries 100 per cent but today the number has appreciated to 11 local governments with the exception of Lafia and Nassarawa Eggon local governments that are still battling up,” he said.
Balarabe-Abdullahi said that the Assembly recommended the separation of the state Pension Bureau from the Local government Pension Bureau were each Bureau will have a Director-General and staff.
“And that Joint Accounts Committee (JAC) meetings should be only to reconcile accounts of the various local governments and not to distribute funds as it used to be in the past.
“That the state government should on monthly basis remit the 10 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue(IGR)funds to the local government.
“That the 5 per cent statutory allocation to traditional council shall henceforth be paid into the consolidated account with the ministry of local government,”he added.
Balarabe-Abdullahi said that the state ministry for local government should provide the table of payment for the purpose of distribution of the 70 per cent as its affect the graded chiefs in the state.
The speaker further said that the state assembly would not fold its hands to see local government system collapse ,adding that any one found wanting will be dealt with according of the law of the land.
