Rivers: Everything must not be tied to politics, Wike – Fubara on detecting fake workers

Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State, on Monday, disclosed that he detected fake workers in the state who were using their six-month bank statements as evidence.

Fubara, who warned that everything in the state must not be tied to politics and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, disclosed that some workers’ bank statements, as investigated by his administration, showed that only real workers were receiving salaries.

The governor disclosed the discovery at the inauguration of the Omademe road in Ikwerre Local Government Area, revealing that a commission was constituted and directed to conduct a verification of workers.

He said: “When I came in, even before I returned from my sabbatical leave, we already had issues of a bloated salary payroll. The then Local Government Service Commission was working on it, but unfortunately we all know what happened and a new commission was reconstituted before we came in.

“We found out that there was no reason for us to dissolve it but to continue. We had a meeting and commissioned a team to look into the issues, which have been a recurrent problem, especially in Emohua Local Government Area where the Chairman doesn’t want to pay salaries.

“I said, look, I want a thorough job, and it took them a long time, but I was patient because I wanted something that would convince me.

“One of the conditions I gave to them was that I was a treasury staff member and I know how to detect fake workers. Fake workers are not to be called to come in for verification, no. Take them six months back, let them bring their bank statement, show evidence that they have been collecting salaries for the past six months; those are part of the things we used to confirm genuine workers.”

Stressing that he is not against people in the state being employed, Fubara insisted that the right thing must be done, adding, “I’m not against you being employed; if you want to be employed, it should be through the proper channel; that is the issue. You don’t need to thank me for what I have done; I did the right thing. Employment would be done so that the proper and genuine people will be employed to fill those vacancies.

“Everything about Rivers State mustn’t be tied to politics, must not be tied to myself and my oga; at times, be very objective and look beyond the issues of politics while looking at facts. I approved the implementation of that recommendation, and I stand by it.”