A comprehensive verification exercise in Rivers State has identified a significant number of ineligible names on the government's payroll, resulting in a major reduction in the officially recognized workforce and pensioner lists.
The audit, aimed at enhancing fiscal transparency, validated the status of 37,703 state civil servants, a sharp decline from the previously recorded figure of over 43,000. A similar discrepancy was found among pensioners, with verified retirees falling to 19,186 from an initial count exceeding 25,500.
Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas presented these findings during a meeting with labor representatives at the Government House. He detailed further irregularities, noting that only 2,004 local government pensioners were confirmed out of more than 2,600. The verification of active staff across seven local government areas—including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema—validated approximately 8,000 employees.
Ibas has set a firm deadline of September 4, 2025, to complete the verification process for all local government staff, pledging full government support to achieve this goal.
Emphasizing a strict zero-tolerance stance on corruption, Ibas stated that only salary arrears for March 2025 have been settled, as delays were caused by the ongoing audit. He also reported the discovery of a N117 million overpayment in the March payroll, which has now triggered an official investigation into the matter.
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