
The Rivers State Local Government Service Commission has intensified its campaign to eliminate ghost workers from the state’s local government system through a comprehensive biometric verification exercise aimed at sanitizing the payroll and restoring efficiency in public service.
The Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Israel Amadi, disclosed this in Port Harcourt during an interview with journalists, noting that the ongoing verification — both online and physical — is designed to ensure that only authentic and duly employed staff remain on the government payroll.
Dr. Amadi explained that the exercise is part of the Commission’s broader reform agenda to promote accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery across all local government areas in the state.
“This initiative is a decisive step toward building a credible workforce. We are determined to ensure that every name on the payroll belongs to a real employee who is productively engaged,” he said.
He added that the verification is being conducted simultaneously across all 23 local government areas, with teams deployed to capture biometric data and cross-check records against existing personnel files.
According to him, the process is expected to expose cases of multiple employment, salary duplication, and payroll fraud — long-standing issues that have drained local government finances and undermined productivity.
Dr. Amadi assured that adequate security and logistical measures have been put in place to guarantee a smooth, transparent, and credible verification process, adding that the Commission is collaborating closely with relevant agencies to ensure full compliance.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his unwavering support, Amadi said the governor’s commitment to institutional reform and fiscal discipline had strengthened the Commission’s resolve to clean up the system.
“We thank His Excellency for his confidence in the Commission. This exercise will not only enhance efficiency but also ensure that public funds are channeled to genuine workers and developmental projects that benefit the grassroots,” he stated.
He urged all local government employees to cooperate fully with verification officers, emphasizing that the exercise is not punitive but aimed at improving governance outcomes.
“This is about fairness and professionalism. A verified, credible workforce is essential for quality service delivery to the people of Rivers State,” Dr. Amadi added.
The biometric verification marks a major step in the Commission’s drive to strengthen institutional integrity and ensure prudent management of public resources across the state’s local government system.