Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has set up another committee to check fraud on the state government’s payroll.
This comes after a multi-million Naira contract awarded for the same purpose last year failed to yield any tangible result.
Also N146 million was given to the state House of Assembly for the same purpose without any reasonable outcome.
During the inauguration of the committee at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi today, Ortom expressed worry about what he described as the over bloated state wage bill which he blamed on a syndicated that utilized ghost workers.
He therefore charged members of the committee to deploy the best Information and Communication Technology, ICT-driven best practices in carrying out their assignment.
“Make use of the Bank Verification and other ICT-driven best practices to guard against multiple payments,” stressed.
According him, the federal and several state governments were also contending with the issue.
“Our administration is determined to bring positive changes and values in the conduct of government business and we want to plug all leakages that drain the resources of the state,” he stressed.
“Verify all salary payments in MDA’s, tertiary institutions including the Benue State University as well as the local government system and come out with a realistic salary bill.”
Governor Ortom gave the committee, which he said was composed from experienced, committed and reputable members, three months to conclude its assignment.
A retired permanent secretary, Mr. Tertsegha Ikyaabo who is chairman of the 11-member committee pledged to justify the confidence reposed in the members.
Benue State has the largest wage bill amongst the entire 19 states in the North.
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