Plateau discovers fake commissioner on its payroll

The Plateau State Government has expressed frustration that its efforts to curb corruption in its public service are being thwarted by workers in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Abraham Yiljap, said that among the corrupt practices found in the system was the discovery of a fake commissioner in the state service.

Yiljap said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos on Tuesday that the alleged fake commissioner had been earning the salary and allowances attached to the office.

He described the level of corruption in the state’s public service as “nauseating”.

He said, “There is a fake commissioner’s name on the payroll of Plateau State Government. I mean somebody appointed himself as commissioner and has been receiving salaries and other perks of office as one.

“We have a lot of bad things. Some people are on Grade Level 8 but receive salaries meant for level 16 officers. Others have primary school certificates and are retiring on grade level 14.

“In another instance, some of the workers connived and stole N66m scholarship funds.

“There are many other people, who are taking money that they should not be taking. Some are no longer in the service but they are maintained in service. People are maintaining fictitious names and drawing salaries,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner said it was sad that workers had continued to thwart the government’s efforts to cleanse the system.

He said the workers engaged in all forms of corrupt practices, particularly through the falsification of names on salary vouchers.

Yiljap said the state had a monthly wage bill of N1.7bn and described the sum as “simply incredulous and unacceptable.”

He said, “That huge wage bill is taking its toll on our efforts to execute capital projects.”