Friday, March 29, 2024

26,000 fake Deltans uncovered in state’s civil service

… as desperate job seekers pay N200,000 for certificates of origin

Tension has continued to build up in Delta over the alleged infiltration of non-indigenes from Anambra and Imo states into the state’s civil service, including the local government councils.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State disclosed at a media parley that no fewer than 26, 000 non-indigenes had, so far, been uncovered among the over 60, 000 workers in the state civil service.
However, investigations revealed that non-indigenous workers in the Igbo-speaking local government councils were more in number in the state civil service after the government had weeded out those it described as “ghost workers.”
Further investigations revealed that the non-indigenes allegedly bought local government certificates of origin, including sworn affidavit(s) for the change of names, age declaration, local government origin and state, and even got the documents published in national dailies to give credence to their claims.
Sources within the councils in Oshimili South, Oshimili North, Aniocha North and Aniocha South local government areas said desperate job seekers from Anambra and Imo states allegedly paid between N150, 000 and N200, 000 to the councils’ agents, who would ensure verifiable signatures appeared on the certificate(s) before handing it over to them.
Oshimili South council boss, Mr. Chuks Obusom, confirmed that over 50 non-indigenous workers were recently uncovered by his council, disclosing that upon findings, it was discovered that they were involved in the forging of the council’s certificates of origin.
He said, over the years, non-indigenes from neighbouring states had indulged in the forging of the councils’ certificates of origin with which they usually claimed to be natives of Oko community, sharing boundary with the River-Niger.

Many of them claim they are from Oko community, near the River-Niger. They will just get local government’s certificate of origin and claim they are Deltans

“We have discovered over 50 non-indigenes in the council. We are aware of how they came into the council with the certificates of origin. I have personally resolved to be signing all the certificates to avoid reoccurrence,” he said.
It was gathered that agents of various Igbo-speaking councils in the state usually positioned themselves within the councils’ premises, where they issued the council’s certificates of origin to job-seekers after collecting some money from them.
Meanwhile, six officials of one of the councils (names withheld) were last Monday allegedly caught with N.6million cash they made from the illegal business of issuing local government certificate of origin. Three other officials also involved in the racket have been on the run since last week.
The Chairman, Oshimili South LGA, Chief Obusom, said efforts were being made to bring those behind the illicit activities to book.
“We are working tirelessly to arrest the situation. Those we caught with the money will be handed over to the police; we will not allow such again here in our council,” he said.
But the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, in his reaction said, “It has been a burden for the state government. Many of them claim they are from Oko community, near the River-Niger. They will just get local government’s certificate of origin and claim they are Deltans.”

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