MINISTRIES STILL DEMANDING BRIBE FROM BIRS STAFF

 

Despite an investigation by the Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom into allegations of bribery that was unearthed few weeks ago, the perpetrators have continued their act.
Some of the frustrated staff posted to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in an open letter to the Governor, expressed disappointment with the situation and called on the state government to come to their rescue. 

Read full text of the open letter below:

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXECELLENCY, SAMUEL ORTOM ON THE PLIGHT OF BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE STAFF POSTED TO THE STATE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Your Excellency, it is disheartening to note that our enthusiasm towards your elevation as Governor of Benue State is gradually fading away within a twinkle of an eye. This is due to the hopelessness, disenchantment deliberately targeted on staff of BIRS whom were offered permanent and pensionable appointment by the Benue State Government on June 12th 2014. 

Sir, we wish to draw your attention to the plight of BIRS staff posted to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Since we resumed, our files have not been processed and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance to capture us on the pay voucher. However, most of our colleagues in other ministries have already benefited from the salaries up to four (4) months while others have been captured on the pay voucher waiting the next batch of payment.

This anomaly is attributed to the demand of various sums of money by the ministry’s staff officer on the pretext of facilitating our documentation and payment of our salaries. Not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N2,500) has been received from each of the sixty two (62) posted to the ministry by the staff officer. The scenario led to the deliberate delay of the processes ranging from the acquisition of sub-heads numbers, verification number, biometric etc. This situation has led to the delay of the whole process till date. 

Also our files both open and secret were erroneously taken to the transitional committee set up by His Excellency to fish out individuals employed in 2015. As we speak, our files are still harboured at the transition committee’s building hence cannot be further processed and forwarded to the Finance Ministry. Efforts to retrieve our files from the transition committee have proven abortive.

We therefore, appeal to His Excellency and other relevant authorities to intervene in this anomaly and alleviate the suffering and predicament of your sons and daughters. Our intention is not to bring disrepute to anyone but to ensure that payment for our services is not denied us.

We once again congratulate you on your victory and swearing in as the fifth Executive Governor of Benue State. We wholly embrace your change agenda and reaffirm our support to the success of this government.

Thank you and God Bless

Signed
Frustrated Staff of State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development