Nigeria’s Bayelsa state government plans to introduce an ‘automated biometric attendance register’ for workers at local government councils in the state.

Officials said the move, scheduled for November, is part of efforts to carry out reforms and re-position local government departments in the state for effective service delivery.

“When the automated biometric attendance register is fully implemented only staffers who come to work and discharge their official duties would receive salary at the end of the month,” the state commissioner for local government and community development, Deacon James Dugo, said at the end of a one-day enlightenment programme for management staff.

The meeting came ahead of the implementation of the automated biometric attendance register.

Dugo explained, “Some of the major challenges that had undermined the ability of the local government councils to deliver on their mandate include over-bloated wage bill, habitual absenteeism and late coming among staffers.”

He added that workers that failed to participate in the exercise risked been declared as ghost workers.

“Only those who are ready to earn their pay would remain in the service of the councils,” Dugo added.

He said that in spite of a very high wage bill, the administration is not interested in sacking any staff.

Dugo advised employees of the councils to ensure that they participated fully when the electronic enrolment to capture the biometrics commences next month.

Nigeria has more than 40,000 ghost workers that draw billions from the treasury, according to reports.