The Ondo State Government has embarked on another verification exercise in the state’s civil service in order to fetch out ghost workers and pensioners from its payroll.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, made this known during a press briefing in the Akure.

Akinmade said that the outcome of the ongoing verification exercise has yielded a positive result which has showed that many fake workers were receiving salaries and allowances from the government in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Akinmade added that the pensions and salaries were being collected by an unknown persons impersonating retirees and those who had died. The commissioner therefore promised that the verification would block the leakages and enable the government to pay salaries without delay.

Akinmade however explained that the verification is necessary because the allocation accruing to the state from the federation account and the Internally Generated Revenue were being used for workers’ salaries.

“At the commencement of the exercise, some workers were discovered to be receiving salaries meant for grade levels higher than their levels, while those who have died, resigned from service or retired, were still drawing salaries from the government.

“About a year ago, a verification exercise was carried out in the MDAs, after which we digitalised our payroll system. Despite the high number of retirees in the last one year, which should have naturally translated into a reduction in wages, the reverse has been the case.”

“For instance, at a primary school in Ikaramu-Akoko, someone who had died about a year ago, was discovered to be receiving salary till date. An important aspect of our discoveries was that those that had retired are still receiving salaries as if they are in active service.” Akinmade said.