The Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, has directed the Commissioner for Finance to pay all outstanding salaries of workers with immediate effect.

The Chairman Review Committee on Kogi State Staff Verification Exercise, Yakubu Okala, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Lokoja the state capital

He explained that the just concluded screening exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting anybody, but rather to flush out ghost workers and preposition the civil service.

The staff verification exercise which was headed by Gen. Paul Okutimo (rtd) was inaugurated by Governor Yahaya Bello on March 2016 with the aim to weed out ghost workers and block leakages of fund in the state civil service.

Gen. Okutimo could not complete the assignment as calls for his removal was made mid-way by the state leadership of labour who complain his hardheadedness and militarizing the exercise.

He was removed by Governor Bello and the choice of Dr. Jerry Agbaji was nominated to complete the assignment.

The report of Dr. Jerry Agbaji committee which was submitted on July 25, 2016 was not acceptable to the people because it was faulted with irregularities and corruption.

This made the governor to set up a back of team headed by the state auditor general, to validate the report and put things right.

Mr. Okala stated also that the review committee had been able to established 43, 909 as genuine workers at both state and local government levels, noting that the figure of over 66, 000 workers arrived at in august by the screening and verification committee was fraught with irregularities.

With the screening coming to an end, genuine workers will now beginning to enjoy their salaries as at when due if the government will match action with words. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Governor Yahaya Bello.