Vice Admiral Ibas (retd), the only administrator of Rivers State, has made startling disclosures regarding the biometric revalidation of employees and retirees who are paid by the state government.
The sole administrator revealed that 37,703 employees were validated during the current exercise, compared to the state’s previous record of nearly 43,000 civil servants.
Additionally, he alluded to the fact that 19,186 state pensioners were confirmed, but the official records showed over 25,500.
During a meeting with the state’s organised labour leadership on Friday at Government House in Port Harcourt, Vice Admiral Ibas revealed this information.
Additionally, according to Ibas, 8,000 local government employees were confirmed throughout seven local government areas (LGAs), including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema, while 2,004 out of 2,600 local government pensioners were validated.
In addition, he vowed to use all state resources to complete the verification of all local government employees by the strict deadline of Wednesday, September 4.
Vice admiral Ibas, who declared that corruption would not be tolerated, disclosed that although attempts are being made, only the March 2025 arrears have been paid out because of issues with verified paperwork.
Following the revelation of a ₦117 million overpayment in the March schedule, which necessitated an official investigation, he issued a severe warning.
“There must be consequences. Such malpractice is a crime against colleagues whose bereaved families are left in pain and penury,” Ibas declared.
