BAYELSA PAYROLL FRAUD: DEP GOV JOHN JONAH SAYS GOVT’LL CLEAN UP MESS, LEAVE A HEALTHY CIVIL SERVICE

YENEGOA, Nigeria – Bayelsa State Government on Wednesday declared its intention to sustain the ongoing reforms in the public sector despite what it described as pockets of opposition by some unpatriotic individuals and groups. The government said it had a responsibility to clean up a system that has been bastardized by some greedy individuals who over the years have taken advantage of the loopholes in the public service to perpetrate all forms of fraud.

The State’s Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah ‎(rtd) stated this in Yenagoa during a live interactive programme; Restoration Hour on the state owned Glory FM (Radio Bayelsa). The Deputy Governor who admitted some minor imperfections ‎in the reform process, said avenues have been provided for anyone who feels unduly treated to voice their concern before some of the committees set up for that purpose.

According to him “we have a responsibility to reform the system within the limits of human imperfection. Like every other process we know this is not perfect but we are working to ensure a fair deal for everyone”.

Jonah revealed that‎ the restoration government wants to leave behind a robust public service which is why it is setting up a standard to enable the next government have a benchmark to take off upon resumption.  He wants those opposed to the reforms to know that it is not a witch-hunt but an inevitable exercise to save the public service from near collapse and maintained that the government is not selective in the renewed fight against payroll thieves and robbers.  

The Deputy Governor explained that the right civil service procedures wil‎l be followed to disengage those who have either compromised the system in one way or the other or have allowed themselves to be beneficiaries of illegality. 

“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, we are not sacking anybody but those who have been confirmed to have falsified their age, certificates or have promoted themselves arbitrarily will have to go. These are cases that cannot be overlooked. However we are mindful of the effect of the action we are taking. So what we are doing is give those affected some form of soft landing by given them 3 months notice or 1 month notice of payment in lieu of their disengagement.  

“To show our sincerity in the reforms, we are following the normal procedure as laid out in the civil service rule. As a responsible government we have made it possible for those who due to administrative and humans are caught in the web to seek redress before the judicial commission of inquiry headed by a competent judge”.

‎While insisting that the ongoing reforms is been done with human face, the deputy governor decried the inability of the government to employ fresh hands for years now due to the malfeasance that has been going on in the system and called on all Bayelsans to show some understanding. 

Jonah also announced plans to‎ employ more teachers with requisite skills to cover up the shortfall as part of repositioning the education sector and enhance learning in public schools across the state. The Bayelsa number two man listed some of the ‎support given to the Niger Delta University (NDU) to include monthly subvention, ongoing senate building, among other projects and dismissed reports of neglect of the institution by the government.