By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
In a decisive move to set the record straight, Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, the Taraba State Head of Service, has debunked social media reports alleging tensions with the Accountant General and clarified the operational hierarchy and salary management processes within the state’s civil service.
Addressing widespread misinformation in his office in Jalingo, Dr. Kara emphasized that his office, not the Ministry of Finance, is traditionally responsible for determining civil servants’ wages, with the Accountant General tasked to implement these directives as approved by the governor. “When I assumed office, I found the salary administration had been shifted to the Ministry of Finance by the former governor,” Dr. Kara explained, noting a departure from established protocol. He affirmed that the Common Service Department, led by the Permanent Secretary under his office, should oversee salaries for all civil servants.
Dr. Kara, drawing on his experience as a former Permanent Secretary, highlighted his initiation of a biometric exercise that reduced the health service workforce by 300, with 120 retirees identified and removed, slashing the monthly payroll by nearly 50 million naira. This discovery prompted the Accountant General to extend screening across other departments, a process Dr. Kara supports ensuring accuracy in staffing numbers.
He further stressed that last week, upon returning from a trip, Dr. Kara learned salaries were being paid based on a committee report, with 20,000 workers verified so far. The committee, including three representatives from the Accountant General’s office, operates with the consent of all parties, he noted. “The Accountant General brought the information, and His Excellency directed salaries be paid based on the committee’s recommendations,” Dr. Kara said, urging civil servants yet to receive payments to come forward for verification.
Dismissing claims of a feud, Dr. Kara asserted, “The office of the Head of Service is superior to the Accountant General. I direct the Accountant General on what to do.” He stressed the biometric exercise aims to confirm the exact number of staff, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Dr. Kara called on the public to disregard rumours of discord, reaffirming his commitment to streamlining civil service operations in Taraba State. “If there are overpayments, new names, retirees, or non-civil servants on the payroll, we will extract them,” he vowed, signalling a rigorous review of salary vouchers post-payment
Civil servants awaiting verification are encouraged to lodge complaints to secure their dues, as the state moves to restore order and accountability to its payroll system.
In his statement, Alhaji Abdukadir Haruna, the Permanent Secretary General Service in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State and Chairman of the Payroll Verification Committee, advised MDAs and heads of departments in the state that the committee has begun paying civil servants. He urged anyone yet to receive payment to meet with their department heads, record their names, and forward the list to the committee. He assured that all genuine civil servants would be paid.
