The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Tuesday said the state government had discovered that the names of 40 retired fire servicemen were still on the payroll of regular workers in the state.
The governor made this known when the Transition Committee for the incoming administration in the state visited him in Asaba.
Uduaghan described the development as “shocking” and appealed to the committee not to put undue pressure on the incoming government in the area of funds and appointments.
He also urged the committee to assist the Governor-elect, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in addressing issues of rising wage bills, given the drop in revenue accruing to the state government.
Uduaghan recommended biometric and automated system in screening workers in the state “to check rising wage bill”.
He disclosed that the state had procured tractors, vehicles and mobile clinic boats to be handed over to his successor.
He cautioned the committee members not to have division among themselves on who takes a particular position in the incoming government but to work and make sacrifices to deepen democracy in the state.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, thanked the governor for supporting the committee in its assignment.
Oyovbaire said the committee had also received the cooperation of all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the discharge of the assignment.