Reforms: No regrets over sack of 28,000 ‘ghost’ workers says Bayelsa Govt

The Bayelsa government, Tuesday said it was not deterred by the concerns raised over loss of 28,000 jobs occasioned by ongoing public service reforms insisting that only ‘ghost’ were affected.

The state government said it owes nobody any apologies for removing ghost names and fake workers who came into its public service through dubious means.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson stated this at Oporoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in a grassroots sensitization programme on the public sector reforms.

 Iworiso-Markson who described the various town hall meetings as a huge success, said the support expressed by the people would give government the needed impetus to drive the reform process to a logical conclusion.

He reiterated that no amount of blackmail would truncate the process, stressing that those crying foul of the reforms are people who were benefiting from the bastardized public service.

While reassuring genuine workers of improved welfare, he debunked rumours that government would scrap the Rural Development Authorities (RDAs) established by previous administration.

 "There is no such plan. We have repeatedly assured our genuine workers that the reforms would not adversely affect any of them.

“But it's a human system, so if any one of them is inadvertently affected in any way, he or she should approach the complaints desk. 

"And I can assure you that the mistake will be rectified immediately. That is the directive from His Excellency, the Governor.

“But for those workers, who came into the service through the back door and those of them who used fake certificates, we have no apology for removing their names from the payroll because it's the right thing to do.

"They have no business in the service. And it will surprise you to know that it is the people who have been defrauding the government over the years that are making the loudest noise,” Iwriso-Markson said.

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He thanked the chiefs and people of Southern Ijaw for coming out in their numbers for the meeting and for the support to the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration right from its inception.

Fielding questions from the participants, Iworiso-Markson assured that government would give some preferential treatment to the area in terms of number slots in the ongoing recruitment of 1000 graduates in view of its largeness both in population and landmass.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Konbowei Benson urged the people to reciprocate the love Dickson has shown to the area by supporting the reforms.

According to them, the reforms would enable government to save more money to take care of workers welfare and push the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma to Angiama before leaving office.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Southern Ijaw, Mr Kia Nigeria commended the government for instituting the reforms.

Nigeria noted that the council saves about N5 million naira monthly from its wage bill after the payroll was cleaned up.

Other stakeholders who endorsed the reforms were retired federal permanent Secretary, Amb. Bolade Igali, political appointees and lawmakers from the area as well as traditional rulers.