State government has resolved to pay salaries of its workers through
the banks with the workers Bank Verification Number (BVN).
Already the state government had commenced the verification of the
civil servants with their BVN attached.
Chief George Eche, Secretary to the State Government, disclosed this
while briefing newsmen in his office.
He said that through such verification, ghost workers could be
eradicated or drastically reduced.
He expressed optimism that once the exercise was through, that the
government would link up with the banks so that any salary cheques
would be linked to the workers' BVNs.
Chief Eche made it clear that there was no law preventing civil
servants from being appointed as SGI noting that the appointment of
permanent secretaries are not promotional but political.
He explained why the entitlements of pensioners in the state could not
be paid monthly but takes three months to pay, explaining that the
funds mapped out for each month for this could not go round.
"Therefore, the government allows the money to accumulate up to three
months before making the payment," he stated.
The government scribe called on parastatals to be business-like in
order to raise money for their service rather than waiting for
government's monthly subvention.