Bauchi pension board staff sacked over involvement in Salary/Pension scam

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Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Bauchi state Civil Service commission (BSCSC) has announced the termination of appointment of Ibrahim Garba, Chief Secretarial Assistant attached to the State Pension Board over what it described as ‘Serious Misconduct.

The termination of Garba’s appointment was contained in a press release signed and made available to newsmen by the Information Officer of the Commission, Saleh Umar on Tuesday.

“The Bauchi State Civil Service Commission (CSC) has terminated the appointment of Ibrahim Garba, Chief Secretarial Assistant attached to the State Pension Board”, the press release reads in parts.

It explained that the Commission approved the termination Ibrahim Garba’s appointment in a sitting during its 17th plenary session held on 1st August, 2023 at its Conference Hall.

The release further explained that the Officer was found wanting for involving himself in salary/pension scam.

According to the press release, Garba’s action violated Public Service Rule (PSR) 0327(XI) that dealt with the issues of financial embezzlement.

The press release said that the Disciplinary Committee of the State Pension Board had found Ibrahim Garba guilty for smartly swapping the account number of one Audu Mohammed, now deceased, with his own account number which facilitated the change of pay point after the relatives of the deceased reported his death.

The BSCSC said Ibrahim Garba thereafter, received illegally pension for Fifty Five (55) months of N54,871.26 each month for Four (4) Years Seven Months which amounted to N3,017,919.30.

According to the press release, the amount illegally received by Ibrahim Garba shall be recovered from his benefit.

The press release noted that the Chairman of the Commission Alhaji Abubakar Usman Madakin Bunun Bauchi, who presided over the session called on the Workers in the State to fear God in the discharge of their duties.

He said that the Public Service Rule (PSR) must be observed and adhered to as guide, warning that it will be applied where necessary to sanitize the system so that the service would be run transparently.

The Chairman who assured Civil Servants in the State of zero victimization, warned that the Commission would not fold its hands and watch bad eggs spoil and sabotage the service despite Government’s effort in attending to issues concerning the progress and development of the State.