By Amos Aar
THE CHAIRMAN, Benue State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mr. James Ivever, on Wednesday clarified concerns surrounding the ongoing screening of local government staff who were employed in 2011 but disengaged in 2017 under the previous administration.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Benue State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Ivever said the screening exercise was a directive of Governor Hyacinth Alia aimed at restoring justice to workers who were legitimately employed but “illegitimately disengaged” by the previous administration in 2017.
According to him, the affected workers were originally employed following due approvals from LGSC after chairmen across the 23 local councils submitted their staff needs. He explained that while the employment process was legitimate, their disengagement was not sanctioned by the commission, making it necessary to revisit the matter.
“The Local Government Service Commission is the only body empowered to employ, train, promote, discipline, and retire local government staff. No council has the right to employ even a level-one officer without our approval. Therefore, when these staff were removed from the payroll in 2017 without any justification, it became imperative to correct that injustice”, Ivever said.
He disclosed that the commission’s records show 3,862 legitimate workers who were duly approved and employed during the 2011–2012 recruitment exercise, noting that any name outside this figure was not captured in the commission’s official records.
“We are dealing strictly with those whose employments were properly approved. Anyone who found their way onto the payroll without going through due process is not part of this exercise,” he said. “We have, however, created a desk to take the records of those with peculiar circumstances so that every case can be properly assessed.”
Responding to questions on measures to ensure transparency, Ivever said the commission was relying solely on official approval documents rather than appointment letters, many of which were forged or obtained through irregular means.
“The only sure way to ensure fairness is to use the official records of the commission. If we depended on appointment letters, it wouldn’t be transparent because not all were legitimately issued”, he explained.
He further dismissed allegations that the commission was substituting names during the screening, describing such claims as blackmail by individuals who benefited from irregular employment processes.
“There is nothing like name substitution. Those spreading such rumours are people who know they came through the back door,” he added.
On the fate of those who have died, retired, or secured other employment since 2017, Ivever said the screening was only to identify living and available workers who were genuinely employed and unjustly removed.
“The exercise is not to replace anybody but to reinstate those who deserve to be on the payroll,” he said.
Asked about the payment of accumulated arrears owed to the disengaged staff, Ivever explained that the commission had opened negotiations with representatives of the affected workers and reached an amicable understanding, though he noted that financial decisions rest with the appropriate government agencies.
“I do not handle finances. My role is to ensure that those who were wrongly removed are identified and reinstated. The issue of arrears is being handled at another level,” he clarified.
Ivever also recounted that previous screening efforts were inconclusive because they lacked transparency and were not supervised by the LGSC. He said the present exercise is being carried out under new procedures designed by the commission to prevent irregularities and ensure credibility.
He described Governor Alia’s decision to revisit the issue as a mark of compassion and commitment to fairness in governance.
“A responsible government prioritizes the welfare of its citizens, and that is what Governor Alia is demonstrating,” he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Comrade Ugber, commended the Benue State Government and the LGSC for revisiting the plight of affected workers who have suffered for years without clarity on their employment status. He stressed the need for transparency and fairness in the exercise, noting that the NUJ would continue to monitor and report the process objectively.
“The ongoing screening exercise addresses a matter of great concern to the people of Benue State. We commend the current administration and the Local Government Service Commission for taking steps to revisit the plight of these affected workers. This initiative will not only bring justice to deserving individuals but also restore public confidence in government institutions”, Ugber said.
At the end of the briefing, NUJ National Trustee, Comrade Nancy Orshi, commended Mr Ivever for clarifying the issues for the public and urged him to maintain an open-door policy with the media to foster public understanding of government actions.
She said: “We appreciate you for engaging the press and providing clarity on this sensitive matter. We encourage continued collaboration to ensure accurate and balanced information reaches the people,” Orshio urged.
