Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria,(ALGON) in Kogi State, Aloysius Okino said at the weekend that the screening exercise embarked upon by the 21 local government areas of the state would ensure that only legitimate workers get paid.
He said the screening would also help to fish out ghost workers across the councils as well as save money for government. Okino maintained that the exercise is not aimed as victimizing anyone, but to check wastage. He said a situation where money is paid to people for doing nothing will no longer be condoned.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to ALGON on Media and Strategy, Ibrahim Obansa, Okino regretted that fictitious names are inserted into the vouchers to siphon councils’ resources.
“It is worrisome that people who are working in other organizations, under-aged children and wives, who are not working with councils are drawing salaries. Councils cannot make progress with that type of arrangement,” he said.
