Okowa decries N7bn monthly wage bill, pension fraud in Delta

DELTA State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed worries over the whopping N7 billion wage bill amid low internally generated revenue of the state, which, he said, has slowed down service delivery.

This is just as he decried ongoing huge financial leakages in the pensions’ funds payment, an area he disclosed is experiencing a monumental fraud.

Dr Okowa made the disclosures while fielding questions from participants during a town hall meeting at the Civic Centre in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

Lamenting over the situations, Okowa enthused: “I am deeply worried over the huge monthly salaries and wage bills which has greatly slowed down our service delivery to the people. Its not funny at all.

We are taking the issue of staff audit very seriously so that we are able to know the exact number of people working and where they are.

We cannot continue to pay huge bills without conducting verification exercise. It’s a task that must be done and the LGAs must also do likewise so that they too can save some money for infrastructure and socioeconomic development of the communities within their constitutional responsibilities.

You are aware that some states already discovered serious frauds through staff audit, and the rescued funds are now being deployed into productive ventures, particularly infrastructure and human capital development. Delta State will not be left out.

Another area of huge financial leakages is the pension’s funds payment and I am told that monumental fraud is ongoing.

We shall deploy strategies to unearth the fraud so that whatever is saved can be applied towards the overall development of our state.

We have set up a committee to look into the pensions’ fraud issue and I recently directed that representatives from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) should be included for the sake of transparency and to avoid unnecessary insinuations and protests.”

On the issue of local government staff salary arears, Gov Okowa regretted the development, but blamed the prevailing recession.

He however added that his administration was currently working out strategies to clear the backlogs as soon as possible, but subject to availability of funds accruing to the Joint Account between the state and local governments.

“I am pained by the lingering crisis occassioned by delay in the payment of arears of LGAs staff salaries. It’s regrettable and we are on top of it, going forward.

My administration is committed to the prosperity for all Deltans mantra and I shall do the needful at all times to put smiles on the faces of all Deltans,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the governor has again assured the people of Delta State and Isoko nation of his total commitment towards infrastructure, socio-economic and human capital development in the state.