The Rivers State Local Government Service Commission has dismissed reports that 21,000 local government employees have been sacked across the state’s 23 local government areas.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Commission’s Chairman, Favour Azubuike, the Commission described the reports as false, misleading and a gross misrepresentation of facts.
The Commission said a complaints committee would soon be established to address genuine concerns arising from the ongoing biometric verification exercise.
According to the Commission, the exercise, which began in October 2025, is aimed at cleaning up personnel records, eliminating ghost workers and duplicate entries, and addressing concerns over inflated wage bills and illegal staffing.
It said the exercise involves the Office of the Head of Service, the Accountant-General, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and the Local Government Service Commission.
The Commission added that NULGE representatives are monitoring the verification process across the 23 LGAs.
It also rejected claims that the exercise was politically motivated or designed to raise funds for the 2027 general elections.
The Commission assured workers that no legitimate local government employee had been disengaged or denied their rights and privileges.
It said the status of staff would be determined based on verified data and the provisions of the Public Service Rules.
