* Declares 853 ‘ghost’ workers
The Abia State government has reportedly discovered that about 5, 666 of the 5, 853 workers employed by its Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) from 2018 to date were not approved.
This was revealed in a report of the seven-man committee set up by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to scrutinize all purported employments in the board from 2018 to 2020.
While submitting the committee’s report through the Chief of Staff (COS) to the governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, its Chairman, Mrs. Kate Ndukuba, said of the 5, 853 persons employed within the period, only 187 were officially engaged, while 5, 666 were employed illegally.
She disclosed that 5,000 of the 5,853 newly recruited staff appeared before the committee, while 853 did not show up, adding that the committee considered those who failed to appear before it as ghost workers.
She, however, stated that majority of those employed are not being paid salaries.
Agbazuere commended the committee for a good job, saying the government would study its recommendations and act accordingly.
He stressed the need for government agencies to adhere to the rules guiding recruitment into public service.