Kogi state government has vowed to implement the recommendations of the state Staff Verification Committee to cleanse the civil service of ghost workers and other bad elements.
The state Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Gabriel Arome Adoji said despite the activities of saboteurs and other corrupt elements in the system to frustrate the exercise, the government will see to the conclusion of the verification.
The commissioner said this when he commissioned the state-of-the-art ICT Knowledge Access Venue (KAV) built by Cal-Maji Foundation in Unyi-Ogugu, Olomaboro local government area of Kogi state.
Due to the exercise, the state workers have been owed several months salaries which has caused severe hardship for them and their dependants.
Adoji however assured that genuine workers would be paid their entire salaries and allowances after the exercise which is scheduled to end in March.
He added that government is committed to ensuring that no genuine worker is shortchanged in any way.
Adoji noted that the anomalies so far discovered in the system are too massive to be ignored, adding that there will be light at the end of the tunnel for people of the state.
“There are so many saboteurs trying to frustrate the ongoing screening exercise but we are determined to see it through.
We have seen so many anomalies, so much fraud. To win a war isn’t easy. We will fight to the end.
The exercise will come to an end by march and by then we will make sure no genuine worker is shortchanged. The governor has said even if you are owed a year salary, you will be paid and all your allowances and arrears fully settled,” he said.
He told the gathering that the state has been doing a lot of road projects, adding that the administration is committed to infrastructural and youth development.
“When I told the governor about this massive project, he told me to leave whatever I am doing to come here and do the needful. That tells you how committed we are to youth and women empowerment.
He commended the initiator of the project, Chief Callistus Ayegba, and the Project Director, Faith Chenemi Ayegba, as well as students and teachers of Asmau International Academy, where the centre is located.
The commissioner encouraged the children to make good use of the free school and ICT centre facilities in the pursuit of the knowledge required to be great in life.
