NUT, NULGE back Cross River Govt’s move to flush ghost workers from payroll
Cross River Unions Support Payroll Verification to Eliminate Ghost Workers
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have expressed their support for the Cross River State government’s ongoing payroll verification exercise. This initiative aims to identify and remove over 2,000 suspected ghost workers from the local government wage system.
The verification process, which is taking place throughout the state, is intended to streamline the payroll structure, correct irregularities, and ensure that only legitimate employees receive their salaries.
During a speech over the weekend, Greg Olayi, the chairman of Cross River NUT, highlighted the union’s ongoing collaboration with government agencies. He encouraged affected teachers to submit their payslips, Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and other necessary documentation for the verification.
While endorsing the initiative, Olayi noted that some teachers who complied with the requirements are still facing difficulties in accessing their salaries. He urged the government to address these challenges to prevent legitimate workers from being unfairly impacted.
Olayi also raised concerns regarding delays and inconsistencies in the promotion of teachers, calling on authorities to review outstanding cases and resolve all verified promotion records.
Recently, Olayi led a protest by teachers over the non-payment of salaries dating back to November 2022. He emphasized that the union’s actions were motivated by concern for its members whose salaries have been delayed or suspended during the verification process.
Similarly, Leko Otabe, president of NULGE in the state, called the payroll sanitization exercise necessary. He argued that it would help eliminate unauthorized entries and irregularities that have complicated salary administration in local governments. Otabe also advocated for improved collaboration between the government and labor unions to enhance communication and expedite the resolution of payroll disputes.
Elder Bassey Abam Eko, the Auditor-General for Local Governments, provided further clarification on the temporary suspension of certain promotions. He stated that this measure was essential for a comprehensive review of records to prevent inconsistencies.
Eko noted that thorough documentation has been requested to assess the financial implications of promotions and to ensure that all adjustments are supported by verifiable records.
At an interactive session with labor leaders and journalists in Calabar, Chief Victor-Felix Idem, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, revealed that investigations had uncovered widespread payroll abuses. These include invalid BVNs, duplicated records, and instances where a single BVN was linked to multiple salary payments.
Preliminary findings suggest that over 2,000 ghost workers exist on the state payroll, with many questionable records traced to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Idem dismissed rumors that teachers were receiving half salaries, asserting that the verification exercise is designed to safeguard public funds and ensure timely payments to legitimate workers.
“We have identified more than 2,000 invalid and questionable records within the payroll system. In some instances, a single BVN has been used to collect salaries for several individuals,” he explained. “Such practices cannot persist if we are committed to protecting public funds and ensuring that genuine workers receive their due compensation.”
