Fubara defends LG payroll clean-up, says politics won’t influence exercise

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has explained his administration's decision to conduct a comprehensive staff payroll verification exercise across the state's 23 local government areas. The governor stated on Monday that the move aims to eliminate "ghost" workers and entrench fiscal discipline within the public service.

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It doesn’t matter whether the people are my supporters. It doesn’t matter whether they are people from the other side. Now there is no other side. We are all Rivers people.

Fubara addressed the issue during the commissioning of the Omademe Internal Roads Project in Ikwerre Local Government Area. He noted that bloated payrolls at the local government level have been a persistent challenge, predating his tenure. He mentioned that a previous Local Government Service Commission had begun addressing the issue before an "emergency rule" in the state, and a new commission continued the effort after his return from a "sabbatical leave."

Drawing on his experience as a former Treasury Officer, Fubara said he deployed ICT personnel to guide the committee tasked with the verification. He emphasized that the committee is expected to operate with objectivity and integrity, free from political influence. "It doesn’t matter whether the people are my supporters. It doesn’t matter whether they are people from the other side. Now there is no other side. We are all Rivers people," he stated.

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Everything about this state mustn’t be tied to politics. It mustn’t be tied to myself and because of this and that. No. please, at times, let’s be very objective and look beyond the issue of politics and look at facts.

The governor urged against politicizing the exercise, stressing that the state's affairs should not be tied to personal or political interests. "Everything about this state mustn’t be tied to politics. It mustn’t be tied to myself and because of this and that. No. please, at times, let’s be very objective and look beyond the issue of politics and look at facts," he said, reaffirming his support for the committee's recommendations.

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I want to ensure that the right thing is done. I’m not against you being employed. But the issue is that if you have to be employed, you have to be employed through the proper channel. So anybody who is writing anything , saying that it has something to do politically, please desist from it.

Fubara also highlighted the Omademe road project as part of his administration's commitment to developing rural communities by improving connectivity and boosting economic activities. He pledged that his government would continue to prioritize actions beneficial to Rivers people.

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So, I want to say here, that I approved the implementation of that recommendation and I stand by it.