The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, says the ongoing civil servants verification exercise in the state has uncovered 5,297 ghost workers and 6,314 ghost pensioners.
Only 37,703 state staff were verified, against a previous figure of over 43,000, he said, adding that only 19,186 state pensioners were verified, compared to over 25,500, suggesting an excess of 5,297 workers and 6,314 pensioners.
He noted only 2,004 local government pensioners were verified out of over 2,600, adding that only 8,000 local government staff have so far been verified across seven LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema.
Ibas, who spoke on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt when he met with leaders of organised labour and Local Government Administrators, expressed his unwavering commitment to transparency, staff welfare, and the successful conclusion of the ongoing staff verification exercise.
He emphasised that the timing of the meeting a day before the local government elections was deliberate to underscore the intrinsic link between accountable leadership and effective grassroots governance.
He said:“Tomorrow’s elections are an important step towards restoring democratic governance at the grassroots. But leaders can only be held accountable when there is clarity on the human and material resources available to them.
“At the heart of the discussions was the comprehensive staff verification and biometric enrolment exercise initiated to enhance transparency and efficiency across the state and local government workforce.
“37,703 state staff verified, against a previous figure of over 43,000, 19,186 state pensioners verified, compared to over 25,500, 2,004 local government pensioners verified out of over 2,600, 8,000 local government staff verified across seven LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema.”
He emphasised the necessity of the process, set September 4, 2025 as deadline for the completion of all local government staff verification.
He vowed to deploy all necessary state resources to meet this goal.
Speaking on gratuity and death benefits, Ibas described the current situation as “deeply regrettable”, revealing that while efforts are ongoing, only arrears for March 2025 have been cleared due to challenges with verified records.
He warned following the discovery of an overpayment of ₦117 million in the March schedule, which has prompted an official investigation.
“There must be consequences. Such malpractice is a crime against colleagues whose bereaved families are left in pain and penury,” he declared.
Speaking, the Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, provided a detailed breakdown of the verification numbers, highlighting the extensive support provided to pensioners, including transport allowances, lunch, and remote participation options for those in the diaspora.
