Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has announced that a comprehensive staff verification exercise has saved the state ₦5 billion from its August salary expenditure by removing ghost workers and impostors from the government payroll.
The retired naval officer made this revelation on Tuesday during the grand finale of the 2025 Civil Service Week Celebration at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, explaining that the verification process successfully identified fraudulent entries in the state’s employment records.
Ibas declared that the recovered funds would be immediately redirected toward critical developmental projects and programs designed to benefit Rivers State residents directly. He emphasized that the savings represent more than just financial figures, describing them as evidence of the administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The sole administrator explained that the verification exercise enabled authorities to distinguish legitimate government employees from fraudulent entries that had been draining state resources. He announced that the recovered funds would be strategically invested in essential infrastructure and social projects to accelerate sustainable development across the state.
According to a statement signed by Senior Special Adviser on Media Hector Igbikiowubo, the Civil Service Week event carried the theme “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future.” The administrator used the platform to recognize civil servants as the backbone of his administration and described them as unsung heroes of public service.
During his address, Ibas outlined ambitious plans for civil service transformation, announcing several reform initiatives already in progress. The reforms focus on enhanced welfare packages for government workers, including upward salary and allowance reviews for Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to reduce the wage disparity with political office holders.
The administrator also revealed that a new minimum wage of ₦85,000 has been implemented at the local government level, representing a significant increase in compensation for workers at the grassroots level of government administration.
The staff verification exercise and subsequent savings highlight ongoing efforts to improve financial management within Rivers State during the emergency administration period. The identification of ghost workers and payroll irregularities suggests systemic issues that had been draining state resources before the current administrative intervention.
