The much awaited verification of local government workers, primary school teachers and their pensioners have commenced on Tuesday across the 18 Council areas of Ondo state.

It was gathered that the exercise was aimed at fishing out ghost workers, teachers and pensioners in the state.

It was further learnt that despite massive retirement of primary school teachers and LG workers their monthly wage bills were yet to reduced significantly.

Meanwhile, the state government said the on-going verification exercise of workers at the local government councils in the state is to ascertain the number of workers that are genuinely working in the councils.

The state Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye who made this known on Tuesday while monitoring the exercise in Akure South Local Government Councils Secretariat in Akure, said the exercise is in the best interest of both the workers and the government.

While addressing the workers at the commencement of the exercise, Aragbaiye said the verification is to identify the actual number of workers that should be on government pay roll, saying that it is also meant to eradicate the instances where government would be paying ten people when only two people are actually doing their jobs.

Williams Oni, Media Manager in the Office of HOS, quotes Aragbaye to have therefore enjoined the workers to cooperate with the state government for their mutual benefit, saying that the exercise was not to put unnecessary suffering on them.

Responding to reporter’s interview, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Segun Odusanya said the exercise only concerned local government staffs, primary school teachers and pensioners at the local government councils.

He said those concerned are to come to the verification centres with their letters of first appointment, last promotion letters and must be identified by their Heads of Department.

The exercise is expected to last for two days.