By Uchino Amatey
Following His Excellency's approval to regularise contract staff, the Acting Managing Director, Cross River Water Board Limited (CRSWBL), Dr Stephen Odey has said that only disciplined, competent and dedicated staff will be employed into the civil service.
He made this known while addressing staff in the Conference room of CRSWBL, following reports on receipt forgery, theft of Water Board properties and other criminalities alleged to be perpetrated by some contract staff of the Board.
Dr Odey said according to reports, six contract staff were involved in receipt forgery to defraud the government, while others were involved in misappropriation of funds.
In his words "I have a report that about six persons were involved in receipt forgery to defraud the state government of revenue. They forged the board's receipts and use them to collect money without remitting it to the State, such people will never make the regularisation list. Some people also collected money and they were misappropriating the money without approval, you collect government money even if there had not been paid it is not your duty or responsibility to start using that money without following due process.
The Board will regularise only those who have shown commitment and discipline."
According to him, others who will not make the list include those who have been accused of theft, non-indigenes, those who are overaged, those with serious medical conditions, those involved in certificate forgery, amongst others.
"we do not want to keep those that are not going to help this Board or any other place you will be sent to, that is why you must come with affidavit of good character and medical fitness , if you are sick its better we know that you are sick so that we don't engage you. Very importantly, we are not ready to take those who have given this board serious cause for concern. I have the names of those people, we are not going to consider those that are involved in stealing the properties of Water Board. If you have such record against you just know that you are out," he stated.
Dr Odey further called on staff to return to work, warning that those who fail to do so will be expunged from the list "to whom much is given much is expected, I have been told that even after payment a lot of people have not returned to work, I need record of those persons, so that if their names falls among those to be regularised I will expunge them," he said.
Warning against certificate forgery, CRSWBL Boss noted that the State is the center of excellence educationally. He advised staff to maintain the status quo and return to school in other to get genuine certificates.
Meanwhile, the CRSWBL Boss has asked all staff staying in the Board's quarters to vacate the premises and follow due process by applying to the Board for allocation of houses. He said the decision to send contract staff away from the premises was influenced by reports of theft of the Board's properties.
In his words "for those of you that have invaded Water Board premises saying that you were allocated, I have not seen any a letter assigning people to stay there. No Contract staff has the statutory right to live in that quarters, because you didn't even have a pensionable job as at that time. So staying there is illegal and that is why I have been asked to come here and correct some things, it is not targeted at anybody, like some people ran to the media to tell lies. I don't know anybody here, but when the issue of stolen properties was reported to me and some of the contract staff who were involved in it were caught and taken to the State housing police station, I reported the matter to the governor and he directed that I send them out of the premises to guard against more cases of theft and ensure that the right thing is done."
He continued "We are not asking people to leave because we want to sell the place. if you are entitled to live there, write to me and I will give you allocation letter permitting you to stay stay there. We just have to be fair, nobody will come and address any anomaly in this Board, we owe it to ourselves to correct all anomalies.
Dr Odey said he will ensure that those who have other employment are also removed from the regularisation list. "for those of you who have been here and you think you are playing smart, I am an expert in verifying and investigating people, some of you are working with Npower, some Secondary Education Board. You know that you will go to jail if it is discovered that you are collecting salary from two different places, I already have some names, such people will definitely have to go. That shows that you have criminal tendency, there is no reason why you will not continue to forge our receipts to get money from customers. We need only responsible, committed and dedicated staff in this Board," he emphasized.
The CRSWBL Boss who also doubles as the Executive Chairman SUBEB said he will continue to go after all those who are trying to sabotage the efforts of government by engaging in all forms of criminalities.
Responding on behalf of Contract Staff, the Store Officer, John Effiom thanked the governor for his kind gesture and assured him of their continuous support. He added that, they will carry out their work diligently and cooperate with the Acting Managing Director to render quality service to Cross Riverians.
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