The Kwara State Personnel Database Development Committee on Friday refuted claims that the state government had contracted the payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ allowance to a private consultant.
The Committee in a statement issued by one of its members, Dr Muyideen Akorede, said that the government has no intention to contract the payment of salaries of any category of workers and pensions to any private consultancy firm.
It clarified that the Personnel Database Development Committee headed by the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed only engaged a consultant to conduct the staff verification exercise in the State.
The consultant, he said, is also developing a robust payroll database for both the State and the 16 local governments in order to eliminate illegal recruitment of workers and other payroll offenses.
The Committee noted that the same consultant had conducted staff verification and created payroll systems in Benue, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Cross River, Anambra, and Plateau State, which is currently verifying its staff.
It, however, explained that the payroll database when developed will still be domiciled at the Office of the State Accountant-General and the relevant officers at each local government council.
Continuing, the committee stated that immediately the database is completed and handed over to the appropriate authorities, the consultant will not have anything else to do with the payment of salaries, pensions, and others.
The Committee said the office of the Head of Service still remains the clearing house for all staff recruitment and other workers’ related issues in the State.
It disclosed that the Personnel Database Development Committee will soon submit its report to the State government, after which it will be made public.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya