Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has put ghost workers on notice saying their days are numbered.
Speaking in Wajir town, Abdullahi said the county wage bill had surpassed the 35 per cent required by law.
“We cannot continue having ghost workers who are drawing salaries amounting to millions that could be used to develop our county,” he said.
Abdullahi further directed all heads of departments to account for staff in their departments and indicate their academic qualifications.
“Our suppliers' tears call for our urgent intervention to reform our economy by clearing all legitimate pending bills,” he said.
He directed every department to submit pending bill status reports.
Pending bills for the financial years 2015-16 and 2019-20 is a thorn in the flesh for the county with contractors lamenting over delayed payments of works done.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Abdullahi said his administration shall begin paying all small businesses to create a thriving business environment to encourage re-investment into the county.
“We understand most SMEs and other business entities have closed shop, gone bankrupt and others have been auctioned due to huge debt as a result of pending bills accumulated from 2015-16 to date,” the governor said.
“We are working towards a for a Wajir that will be prosperous for everybody in the near future, a Wajir we can be proud of. We will remain true to our message of restoring hope."
Last year, former governor Mohamed Abdi also procured a private firm to resolve the issue of the pending bills.
He directed respective departments to provide auditors with the list of pending bills and original payment vouchers.
However, to date, no report has been made public.
Recently, contractors held a press conference where they lamented that they have been turned into destitute yet the county has millions in their coffers.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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