By Peter Duru

MAKURDI— Benue State Government is to commence e-payment of local government staff salaries as part of measures to stem fraud at the third tier of government.

Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo, dropped the hint in Makurdi while playing host to a meeting of officials of the National Union of Local Government Employees from across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Wombo stated that the automated system of payment would ensure strict application of council funds, adding that aside detecting fraud the system would also save time and money that could be channelled into other development projects.

He debunked insinuations and misgivings that the e-payment is meant to retrench and demote staff at the council areas of the state.

He pointed out that with e-payment, it would be possible for local government staff to receive their salaries as at when due, noting that it would also create a data base that would enhance easy auto-pilot of the local government system.