Fresh controversy is trailing the ongoing personnel and payroll verification exercise across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Former Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Daniel E.O. Daniel, has described the exercise as politically motivated, alleging that it amounts to a form of political cleansing.
In a statement, Daniel called for the suspension of the exercise or, alternatively, the non-implementation of its outcome until after the 2027 general elections.
He acknowledged that efforts to eliminate ghost workers, multiple employment and payroll fraud were legitimate, but expressed concerns about the timing of the exercise and alleged selective treatment of workers.
Daniel questioned reports that some long-serving local government employees, who have served for between 20 and 27 years, were being classified as improperly employed or unable to validate their appointments.
He argued that workers who had received salaries, promotions and postings under successive administrations should not suddenly be deemed illegitimate employees without a transparent review of their employment records.
The former council chairman also alleged that some workers recruited in 2025 were being treated differently from employees who had served for decades.
He called for the same legal and evidentiary standards to be applied to all workers undergoing the verification exercise.
Daniel further urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Local Government Service Commission to ensure transparency in the process and provide affected workers with adequate opportunity to defend their employment records.
