The issue of ghost workers has become the bane and a recurring decimal of the Nigerian civil service, and it appears that there is no concrete mechanism in place to put it to an end. Over the past years, cases of ghost workers or what some have come to describe as salary scams has continued to embrace front page of newspapers, journals, internet based news (media) / blog sites with no end in sight.
“Ghost workers” is a term used to describe a calculatedly and well-planed act by the Chief operators of the Nigerian civil service in connivance with a few others to bankroll or pay monthly salary to fictitious pensioners, underage persons, and dead civil servants whose death or death certificate have not been issued to the appropriate authority with a view to stopping such payment.
Ghost workers or salary scam is not only peculiar to the Nigerian federal ministries as has been widely reported in our regional, local and national newspapers, where 45,000 ghost workers were unearthed, but it does also exists in the state and local government levels of government. Most state government in addition to local government have at one time or the other discovered this condemnable act of salary racketeering.
To buttress this, thepointernewsonline.com of 21 February, 2013 on its editorial page reported that, “Yerima Ngama, Minister of State for Finance, announced to a shocked nation and an ever astonished world last week that a total of 45,000 ghost workers who earned over N100billion had been uncovered from about 251 ministries, directorates and agencies through the application of the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System, IPPIS. It is instructive to note that staff audit of some 251 MDAs is yet to be effected”.
“Plateau State Government has announced the uncovering of 5,000 ghost workers on its pay roll. Interestingly, this includes a commissioner, expectedly sitting in the State Executive Council sessions with the State Governor, Jonah Jang. Kano State has also announced the uncovering of over 8,000 ghost workers, while Kebbi says 9,300 of such fictitious names have been uncovered from the nominal roll of its state work force”
Apart from the above revelations, we have also been treated to reports of how other state government across the country uncovered the hydra-head monster – ghost workers. But since the unearthing of the intractable ghost workers syndrome – another extension of corruption which has relentlessly plagued the Nigerian Civil Service the question is: have those who are linked or perceived to be involved in this retrogressive impunity been properly investigated, arraigned, and tried in a competent court, and if found guilty punished?
It is a well-known fact that there are people behind this act. Are they above the law, untouchable or sacred cows that nothing punitive has not been done to them just to set a discouraging example to others who might nurse the ill-idea of enriching themselves via salary scam (ghost workers syndrome)?
At this juncture, I call on the various tiers of government to relentlessly investigate, arrest and arraign those who are directly involved in this despicable act that has the goal of bringing global contempt, economic waste and underdevelopment to Nigeria. If such persons are found guilty, they should be sentence to life imprisonment, and not retirement. Whatever they must have purchased with the ill-gotten money should be confiscated and sold in order to recover the commiserate amount they fraudulently enriched themselves with through ghost workers syndrome. In addition, their bank accounts should be frozen.
Again, the federal, state and local government should contrive a better way of identifying and paying real civil servants to avoid paying ghost workers. If need be, they should go back to the days when manual payment of salaries by hand after such a worker’s identity must have been ascertained. Though this method may have its disadvantage or what do you think?
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Ugochukwu George Igbokwe just hates the craze for titles. Despite being the boss of Make Me, an upscale salon in Surulere, Lagos, Igbokwe prefers to tell people that he works with Make Me. And for his profile, he simply states this way: “I am a husband and father of two most beautiful chics in the world.”
Make Me is an ultramodern beauty complex set up Ugochukwu and his Yoruba wife Bukky. There’s has been a seamless blend of beautiful marital relationship that is also minting money in their joint business, which was established after they both lost their jobs in another salon where they first met as mere friends with no romantic attachment. In the heat of the Valentine’s Day celebration, Ugochukwu broke off briefly from work to tell his Bukky’s story.
Excerpts…
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Unlike most people who are craze about titles, I hate titles and designations like Chief, CEO and all that. All I know is that I work for Make Me. I’m a husband and father of two most beautiful chics in the world.
A few days ago, the talk everywhere was about Valentine’s Day. Can you recall any memorable Valentine’s Day you spent with your wife? (Paused, thought for a moment) My wife and I are both workaholics. And you know that the Val Day that just passed fell on a Thursday. I will be frank with you, everything that revolves around my wife and I is work, work, work because we have targets and things we want to achieve. We are pretty much close and working hard to push through and reach our target. However, there was one particular Valentine’s Day that fell on a weekend. My wife and I moved into Federal Palace hotel after work. It was real fun. So what did you do about the kids? I had my mum and my sister in the house. My wife’s sister was also around that year. As working parents, how do cope with your children? When my wife gets home, the first thing we do is to get the children ready for bed. Then she starts preparing food because she knows that I won’t stay long before coming home and want to eat as soon as I step in. But I can ‘grab’ anything and eat and that is fine. Besides we try to save as much time as possible to have rest rather than spending so much time cooking food. Usually, she tries to get out of the kitchen by 9 o’clock. When I get home I try to relax and also get some sleep because first thing in the morning we are out. How did you meet your wife? We met in our first workplace. I was already working as a barber in a salon where she was employed as the professional stylist. Her second day on the job was a pretty less busy day. Myself and some other workers were all sitting downstairs, chatting and ‘yabbing’ each other. At a point I think she got bored sitting upstairs alone and decided to come downstairs. As soon as she walked past everyone, my colleagues started ‘yabbing’ her too, saying that she was snobbish and didn’t talk to anyone. You know that kind of talk. I quickly hushed them and said, ‘Hey shut up, mind how you talk to her, she is my wife.’ She heard it, turned and looked at me. That was just all. How come you made that statement? I don’t know. I just don’t know. I just said it. Maybe I saw a pretty chic that was very quiet. I though, perhaps, it was because she was new in the place and didn’t know anybody. Anyway I just said it as a joke. Okay how did you get her eventually? At first, we became friends for a long time and remained so until we both lost our job at that place. Then we decided to set a business together, though we were married as at that time. Did you know all along that she was going to be your wife? Not all, marriage just happened along the way. Just before we lost our jobs, one of my aunts had called me and said, ‘we heard you are having something with Bukky.’ And I said, nothing oo! My aunt was not convinced that there was nothing between Bukky and I. She said there had better be something. I was calm. But it was not just my aunts alone; two other people I have so much respect for also called me to ask about my relationship with Bukky. In addition, one of her aunts also raised the issue. Even our customers made the same observation about us. That was when I laid back and thought about it. I asked myself: what are these people seeing that I am not seeing in Bukky? Did you have a girlfriend at the time? Yes. Bukky and I were just friends. How did she feel about your girlfriend? It didn’t bother her. She didn’t pry into my personal affairs. Most of the time we only talked about our work, the business and how to make it better. Then how did you propose to her? That is the amazing thing. When we started working together, we began planning things together and making projections, setting targets together. We knew what we were going to do in four, six or 12 months. There was no special moment when I said to her, “will you marry me?” The reason was that we were doing everything together. As part of our projection we put in when the wedding would be and also discussed when would start having kids after marriage. We agreed not have kids until two years after marriage. We just worked together. Then what happened to your girlfriend? At a point I began to reflect because I never saw her as more than a mere friend and business partner. I suddenly realized that I liked her so much that I didn’t want anything that could jeopardize our friendship. But marriage I wasn’t sure about. I thought if I got pretty much closer in my advances, I might hurt her; so I decided to stay away and just leave it at the level of friendship. But at a point I started thinking, what I am doing? I have never seen anybody that has good character in terms of her mind, her being and personality. It was then that I started considering her as a prospective life partner. She’s Yoruba and you are Ibo. Do you speak Yoruba? No. So how do you cope at first? If anybody had told me I would marry a Yoruba lady, I would probably take it very personal. I probably would fall out with you, that you were trying to curse me. As somebody from the East, I didn’t know so much about Yoruba people. What I knew was what I saw on television. I’m from Umuahia in Abia State and I grew up in Aba. It’s almost impossible for me to imagine marrying a Yoruba woman. You get to meet people and then you understand that what you see on television or things you hear about places and people are not what they seem to be. You really need to see and experience things yourself to know better. I began to see that personality has nothing to do with tribe – it’s just the two individuals; how you understand and how you feel for each other, and whether you are willing to tolerate each other and sustain the relationship. How did your family react to your decision to marry a Yoruba lady? At first I thought it was going to be an issue and I was pretty much prepared. From the moment I decided I was going to marry her, I didn’t care whether anybody would escort me or not. Yet I still had to inform my people. As a matter of fact, I made up mind to go ahead without even telling anybody. I just felt that nobody had said no to the relationship all this while. It was just my mum that said what? A Yoruba lady? I couldn’t hold back replying my mum, what do you mean Yoruba? Because of my mind set, I was ready for anybody. I asked her, do you know anyone? Have you lived with any Yoruba person before? Or have you lived in Yoruba land before? What do you know about the Yoruba? She fired back: don’t you watch TV? Watch what, I replied her? Then I said: You don’t sit here and scream, Yoruba. You don’t even know the person we are talking about; you have not seen her before. I had expected you to say to me, okay, go and bring her. Then I will leave her with you, so that when you are done, I will come back and pick her. I told her, for all I know she is better than you. My mum was shocked and looked at me, asking, what did you say? I said yes, she is better than you in everything. If you bet me, I will bring her and leave her with you. You don’t have right to judge her just because she is Yoruba. My mother didn’t take it lightly and I walked away. That was the last time any other person said anything contrary to what I was planning towards my marriage. Today, my mother is happy that I married her. What did you find most attractive about her? She has a good heart and a beautiful personality. I was convinced 100% that I had found a helpmate in her. I had a strong belief that whatever I wanted to achieve, it would be much easier to achieve with her involvement. When does your typical day start? We leave home at 7 am because we have drop off our children at school. Then we head to the office. What has it been like working with your wife? It has been a great experience, and it has helped me a lot. First, it has helped me keep my head straight and manage every aspect of the business better. Working with her is constant reminder that someone is here and watching over shoulder – so I don’t have to do as I please. Basically, her involvement has kept me on my toes and focused. How do you feel when female customers give you a peck, especially when she’s around? As far as I am concerned, a peck is just like a handshake. Somehow you feel a bit awkward shaking a woman’s hand because it’s really not what I am used to in this environment. People want to give a hug or a peck. That is fine as far as I am concerned. I don’t see it differently. I have been in this profession for over 12 years. So getting a peck from a female customer is pretty much normal. How do you handle customers who particularly want your attention or insist that only you should make their hair? Hair-do has to do with preferences. Both male and female customers have their preferences when it comes to someone touching their hair. Some say it is spiritual, some say they are not at peace when another person touches their hair. Individuals have their preferences when it comes to making hair. The only time I see people walking into a salon without preference is when they come for the very first time. Over 80 percent of people that go into a salon already know who they want to make their hair. I think at that point it’s the creativity that speaks. It’s not any other thing and as far as I am concerned, I want every woman that comes into this place to say it must be Ugo that will make her hair. That way, you know you are on top of your game; you know what you are doing, you know that the client still needs your services and that you are relevant. The moment people start saying, oh he is not around, ok, and I will come tomorrow. Then I know am no more in the game. I have a lot of clients that come here and say it must be me. They call on the phone to know if am around before they will come down. Even if I ask my assistant to do anything on their hair, I must still touch their hair for them to get satisfaction. I look at it as them wanting to get satisfaction, in terms of their hair looking good and being assured that they are looking beautiful and that a good job was done on their hair. I am not saying that other stylists are not good, but that is what obtains; it’s fine and welcome. How do you cope with advances from women? I don’t know how people see this. I have a lot of clients that are full of ego. I would not say that nobody has never has harboured such thoughts or feelings in her mind, but they have not done so physically or directly expressed it. I have a whole lot of people that are very friendly with me. I appreciate it so much because they are showing their friendship and at the same time patronizing my business. I see it that I must keep up whatever am doing, so that they keep coming. If there is any other thing in their mind, I have not noticed it and I don’t look forward to seeing that. No matter what I don’t want anything that would ruin their feeling or make them stop coming. My customers are very classy people and I respect them a lot. Would you want your daughters to get into this same business? That would be fine but I will not force them. I would like to see them show interest in it, have willingness and the self-motivation to do even more than I have done. But if they discover their talent in other areas, I will give my support. What else can I wish for my children other than that they excel in whatever profession they choose. I won’t compel them to become stylists.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
President Alassane Ouattara late Friday in Abidjan conferred Cote d’Ivoire’s highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Nation on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in appreciation of Nigeria’s contributions to peace, stability and progress in his country.
President Ouattara also conferred the honour of Commander of the Order of the Nation on the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan at a State Banquet in the Ivorian seat of government.
Speaking at the occasion, President Jonathan, who began a state visit to the country on Friday, said that Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire must continue to strengthen their bilateral cooperation for the benefit of their citizens and others in the West African sub-region.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
In line with the recommendations of a committee headed by erstwhile Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Steve Oronsaye, the five structure federal bureaucracy has now been reduced to three.
This, President Goodluck Jonathan asserted Friday night was to enable the apex government fast track the development of the country.
Jonathan stated this in Abuja on Friday at a formal send-off ceremony for two past Heads of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye and Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
After almost three months absence, Cross River State Governors Liyel Imoke finally returned to Nigeria Friday evening from the United States of America.
Sources said the governor who took a two-month leave on December 6 last year to attend to an undisclosed ailment in Maryland, USA arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos in the evening and was swiftly driven to an undisclosed location.
The source added: “The governor is hale and hearty and would return to Calabar in a few days time.” Also, a text message sent yesterday evening by us to a close aide of Obioma (Liyel wife) also confirmed the arrival of the governor and his wife in Lagos. She replied: “Yes, the governor is back. To God be the glory.”
The state’s acting governor, Effiok Cobang had two weeks ago hinted about the governor’s imminent return to the country, saying he would return ‘any moment from now.”
Cobang added: “The governor is in Maryland. Any moment from now he will return. He is not in any life threatening condition. There is no secret about his whereabouts. Last December, I had cause to address the elders forum of this state and it was one of the platforms that I felt was necessary for me to clear all doubts about the whereabouts of the governor. If he does not return this weekend, he will definitely do so next week,” he said.
In the last three months, there had been intense speculations about Imoke’s state of health and long absence with some saying that his health had further deteriorated and that he could no longer continue in office as governor.
When the rumour persisted, the governor had to respond through his Facebook page saying, “gratitude for the concern, kind words and messages. I am well. Very well and in good health and spirit. One can’t continuously cheat nature especially at the punishing pace we do. It’s probably been eight to ten years or more without a break or a decent vacation. I truly needed to take this time off. Thankfully we are unified in our approach to governance so there’s continuity, which is important. Best regards.’’
Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba also debunked insinuation that Imoke could no longer continue in office: “I met with Governor Liyel Imoke in the United States recently during a visit. He was not sick, let alone being on hospital bed as rumoured. Imoke, which I saw, was in good health contrary to the rumours in Calabar that he has passed on. We even joked about rumours of his death.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The lingering controversy over who is the authentic counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, has been resolved finally Friday.
Two counsel had announced their appearances for the PDP in court, claiming to be the counsel of the party in a case involving Mr. Maina Ularamu, who is challenging the PDP chairmanship primary elections held in Madagali local government area of the state.
Sequel to a letter from the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, confirming Mr. Ahmed Isa, as the authentic counsel to appear for the party in court, Mr. Ayo Akam, thereafter, withdrew from handling the party’s case before the Adamawa High Court sitting in Yola.
Akam, who announced his withdrawal yesterday before the presiding judge, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, said his withdrawal was for the progress of the case and that he was hired by Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama, factional chairman of the state PDP to handle the party’s cases in the court.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Authority of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government (HoSG) has condemned the recent suicide bombings and guerilla attacks in Mali by terrorists in the North of Mali, urging that necessary steps should be taken to neutralise them.
The Authority also renewed the mandate of the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Alassane Ouattara, as its chairman for another year, noting that he has demonstrated constant commitment to the regional body and its integration process and good management of the crises in Mali and Guinea Bissau.
Rising from its 42nd Ordinary Session in Abidjan, on Thursday, the Authority directed the allied forces to work hard at counter- insurgency operations to stops the attacks and apprehend their collaborators.
According to a copy of the final communiqué made available by the ECOWAS Commission at the end of the meeting, also lauded the government and people of Chad, some of whose soldiers were killed in Mali recently.
“Authority endorses the revised Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for AFISMA and urges both the political leadership and Commanders of the allied forces to ensure improved coordination among themselves for a harmonious and effective operation,” the communiqué read.
It also directed the ECOWAS Commission to ensure that the needs of AFISMA troops were met without delay, especially with regards to the deployment of troops and provision of additional logistics.
While directing AFISMA Commanders to urgently integrate the recently deployed Burundi troop into the ongoing operations, the communiqué harped on the necessity of AFISMA troops and allied forces to respect all human rights and international laws during their operation to avoid abuse.
“The summit reiterates its call on international humanitarian actors to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations. It directs the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, to monitor and coordinate the relief efforts to ensure effectiveness,” it added.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nigeria’s economy grew by 6.99 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year as against 7.76 per cent in the same quarter of 2011, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Friday in its latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates. The GDP growth, which was up from 6.48 per cent in the third quarter of 2012, was however; lower than the initial forecast of 7.09 per cent for the period under review.
Both the oil and non-oil sectors witnessed decreased output during the fourth quarter. But nominal GDP for the fourth quarter was estimated at N10, 593, 714, 64 million as against N9, 554,854.69 million in the corresponding quarter of 2011.
According to the NBS, “compared with third quarter results, the economy soared by 0.44 per cent, driven largely by the non-oil sector, which grew by 8.21 per cent in real terms, although that was about 0.89 per cent lower than the 9.10 per cent in same quarter of last year.
“On the other hand, the oil sector contributed 12.59 per cent to real GDP in the fourth quarter as against 13.42 per cent in the third quarter and 13.57 per cent in the corresponding quarter in the previous year.”
It reported that daily crude oil production averaged 2.14 million barrels per day as against 2.44 million barrels per day in the corresponding quarter in 2011.
The NBS said the figures combined with their associated gas components, translated into a growth rate of -0.79 per cent in oil GDP in the fourth quarter compared with the -0.08 per cent for the corresponding period in 2011.
Production in the oil and gas sector was said to have declined to -0.79 per cent in the fourth quarter as against 0.08 per cent previously.
The NBS said: “The Nigerian oil sector had witnessed levels of disruptions due to facility shut downs. For example, the activities of vandals and oil theft have affected production of Bonny Light and Forcados grades as well as Qua Iboe crude oil production.
“However, the sector also benefited immensely from the relative stability in international crude oil market price and the exchange rate of naira against the dollar.”
Meanwhile, the non-oil sector growth rate of 7.55 per cent was marginally higher than third quarter figures. The decline in the non-oil sector in the fourth quarter was blamed on decline in activities in the wholesale & retail trade and real estate.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Peter, Paul and Jude Okoye have been building the new house at Parkview Estate since June last year. According to a source close to the twins, the new house, which will also be a twin duplex like their Omole Estate home, will be called Squareville2. Squareville2 is costing them more than their Omole Estate mansion.
I gathered exclusively that the Okoye boys bought the land in Parkview Estate for N200million and will spend another N200m to erect their dream home. They will be shuttling between their Omole home and this new one, which will be completed before the end of the year.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Na wa for love o, they have turned to Romeo and Juliet. I hope there were no accidents as people must enjoyed the free show.
Two lovers banned from seeing each other by their parents brought traffic to a standstill when they stripped off and threatened to leap from a bridge. The couple kept police and rescuers at bay for more than two hours as they stayed locked in a passionate clinch on a flyover 30ft above a motorway in China. "Our parents say we can't be together but we want to show people we have nothing to hide," they told a bemused crowd in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
"We won't come down until everyone has seen how much we mean to each other and that our parents will never be able to pull us apart," they added. Bridge protests have become common in China, but public unclothedness is still considered scandalously shocking. "We waited for the high wind and the cold air to cool off their passion and eventually they gave themselves up. "Our biggest problem was blocking the traffic so motorists didn't drive into each other trying to get a better look," said a police spokesman.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
