TOWARDS A BETTER PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR ABIA WORKFORCE.

#AbiaOnline
In a bid to ensuring a seamless payment system for the State workforce, the State government through the ministry of finance today conveyed a meeting of all accounting/pay-rolling officers of MDAs and parastatals. The meeting was in line with the State projections to consolidate and harmonize the payments of all workers in the State. This programme when fully in place will ensure that all workers salaries and pensions are paid simultaneously.
The meeting which had in attendance, State Head of Service, Dr. Vivian Uma represented by the permanent secretary, Bureau of Establishment and Pensions, Mr. F.C. Udensi, State statistician generals, Mr. Nnanna Eze, State Auditor General, Mr. Gbaramugo, representative of the State Accountant general, Sir Eric Nwaogwugwu, LloydAnt consult, inter-switch, as United Bank of Aftica (UBA), representatives was declared open by the permanent secretary, Ministry of finance, Elder B.E. Ogbonna.
While welcoming the participants, the State Head of Service who spoke through Mr. F.C. Udensi stated that the programme was an offshoot of the World Bank public expenditure, management and financial accountability review conducted between 2009 and 2012, aimed at understanding the States financial management operation system and improving on areas that needs to be.
The commissioner of finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku maintained that as a federal government project which is meant at automating the payment processes, people of integrity and honesty with an ICT prowess are needed in the job, hence the choice of LloydAnt consulting firm, Inter-Switch and UBA.
The commissioner called on workers in the State to key into the project.
While delivering his lecture, the LloydAnt consult MD, Mr. Emeka Asibanya enumerated some of their achievements so far to include; generated and distributed custom forms, documents verification processes, biometric auditing, creation of employment data base and reconciliation of workforce strength and added that the prospects of the work include, reduction in time wasted in manual salary computing, online authorization process against the manual process that has delayed payment, reduction of human error, payment of salaries even on holidays among others.
Mr. Michael Ochulor of UBA stated that the process is targeted at moving Abia from manual payment processes to a hybrid automated payment processes. Issues concerning loans, corps members stipends, transfer of service, allowances and entitlements were well taken care of.
Meanwhile, the State is currently working hard to ensure that all workers pay packs for MDAs, parastatals and LGAs will be at par very soon.