Enugu Commissioner Says Govt Will Embark On Biometric Capture Of Workers

In its bid to checkmate ghost workers syndrome in its public service, Enugu state government will embark on biometric capture of its workers and pensioners with the use of Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The Commissioner of Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, who made the disclosure on Saturday in Enugu told the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that government would partner UBA Plc to conduct the exercise.

He said that government was determined to checkmate ghost workers syndrome in its public service, adding that the verification would commence from the beginning of April.

`To checkmate ghost workers syndrome in its public service, Enugu state government has directed the immediate biometric capture of its workforce and pensioners using Bank Verification Number (BVN).

``The office of the Head of Service and the Ministry of Finance had been mandated to collaborate with UBA Plc to carry out the exercise at no cost to the government, `` he said.

The commissioner explained that the exercise had become necessary in view of the bloated workforce and wage bills, despite the fact that workers had been retiring from the service each year.

He expressed hope that the revenue profile of the government would improve at the end of the exercise to enable it cater for other pressing needs.

Udeuhele said that the government had approved the constitution of a tender board to supervise the process of awarding contracts for UBEC/ENSUBEB projects.

``The approval of the constitution of the tender board is in-line with government`s due process arrangement, `` he said.