Abia Government has sacked six civil servants over alleged salary padding.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Abia State Government has dismissed six staff of the Ministry of Justice after they were found guilty of manipulating payroll records in a salary padding scheme.
The decision was announced in a statement issued by Eno Jerry Eze, Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, on Thursday.
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According to the statement, the affected officers fraudulently adjusted payroll systems to unlawfully receive excess salaries.
Those dismissed include:
Dickson Uche Eze – Principal Accountant (SGL 12)
Esther Emeruwa – Senior Accountant (SGL 10)
Ijeoma Jonathan – Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14)
Treasure Isinguzo – Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13)
Chioma Victoria Erondu – Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12)
Hannah Ezinne Eze – Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09)
The Commission clarified that Mrs. Chioma Favour Madu, who was also investigated, was cleared after promptly reporting an overpayment and taking steps to rectify it.
Eno Jerry Eze noted that the investigation also raised concerns about possible complicity by members of the state’s Salary Committee. Governor Alex Otti has directed a separate probe into the Committee’s activities.
The indicted officers will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
“This decisive action underscores the commitment of the present administration to transparency, discipline, and zero tolerance for corruption in public service,” the statement read.
The government urged civil servants to uphold integrity and report any irregularities, stressing that it would not relent in sanitizing the system of fraudulent practices.
