Civil Service Reforms in Gombe State: Recruitment of Biometric Attendance Supervisors

In a bid to enhance productivity and efficiency in the Gombe State Civil Service, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has overseen the recruitment of over 400 Biometric Attendance Supervisors (BAS) to manage the operation of Biometric Attendance Machines installed across various state and local government offices. The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, emphasized the importance of this initiative during the inauguration of a 1-day induction training for the supervisors.

Addressing the issue of ghost workers that have burdened the state and local governments financially, Governor Inuwa Yahaya stressed the need for transparency and integrity in addressing this challenge. He highlighted the failure of previous administrations’ attempts at verification exercises and reiterated his commitment to identifying ghost workers while ensuring employment opportunities for genuine workers.

Since the introduction of the biometric system in October 2021, Gombe State has realized significant monthly savings, totaling over 1.4 billion naira, which have been allocated towards settling gratuity backlogs at both state and local government levels. The implementation of the biometric system has also enabled the state to secure a $4 million grant from the World Bank’s SFTAS programme.

The Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Malam Muhammad Gambo Magaji, underscored the importance of financial management reforms and the cleansing of the state’s payroll. He highlighted the success of Gombe State in payroll management, positioning it as the top-ranking state in Nigeria.

Key stakeholders, including the Head of Service, the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and the Accountant General of the State, emphasized the significance of the biometric system and urged the newly recruited supervisors to approach their roles with dedication and sincerity.

The Biometric Programme Consultant, Dr. Isma’il Musa Jibrin, assured civil servants that the system is designed to promote fairness and accountability, ensuring that diligent workers receive their rightful remuneration without unfair penalization.

Representing the Gombe State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adamu Garba commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his reforms in the civil service and emphasized the importance of cooperation from civil servants for the success of the biometric attendance system. He reassured workers that the system was not intended to witch-hunt but to sanitize the payroll and enhance productivity.