By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI—Imo State government loses over N60 million annually to194 ghost workers in the State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB.

This startling revelation is contained in the report of the biometric staff audit of the Board presented to Governor Ikedi Ohakim by Mr. Dan Okehi, Chairman of the consulting firm engaged by the state government to conduct the research.

Mr. Okehi disclosed that out of the 15,860 persons that filled the biometric form, only 14,363 were found to be authentic staff of IMSUBEB, leaving a staggering 194 names that made the ghost workers’ list.

“With the findings, Imo State Government would be saving N6,555,344 monthly. Similarly, 162 of the workers were discovered to have forged their certificates”, the consultant said.

Continuing, Okehi maintained that the average age of about 1,997 of the Board’s staff are 58 and above, who are likely to retire in the next two or three years, whereas those between 33 and above are 1,938.

The chairman further revealed that the biometric audit lasted for four months and recommended that there should be a data base for local government education system in the state.

“A clear organogram should be drawn for the Local Government Education Authority to avoid excess staff. Government should introduce incentives to enable teachers operate within and outside the rural areas,” Okehi said.

Calling for the filling of vacant positions in the teaching service, Okehi also advised that there must be a minimum qualification for employment of teachers in the primary sector, as well as confirmation of such qualifications and ages of the teachers.

Receiving the report, Governor Ikedi Ohakim reiterated his commitment to laying a solid foundation for economic development in the state, stressing that planning was essential if the vision for the boisterous economy would be achieved.

He assured that teh 10,000 jobs programme for the unemployed youths would bridge the gap already identified by the biometric data, adding that in the next couple of weeks, successful teachers and civil servants would be given their appointment letters an posted to relevant areas.