From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa state government is to stop the salaries of those indicted in the payroll fraud in the state.
The governor, Henry Seriake Dickson as a first step to confront the problem had in a meeting with the Civil Service Reforms Committee directed the deputy governor, Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah to compile the names of those indicted.
Dickson in a latest move has directed the Head of Service, Revd Thomas Zidafamor and the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon Talford Ongolo to ensure the stoppage of salaries of those indicted and the removal of their name from the payment voucher.
 Sunday Sun investigations revealed that Dickson in a meeting which had in attendance top officials of the government and reform committee members over the weekend issued a stern directive that the salaries of all those indicted in the payroll fraud should be stopped and paid to the Unpaid Salaries Account in the state.
 It was gathered that Dickson who emphasized   that no innocent Civil servant would be affected directed that those affected and wish to contest their indictment  should approach  the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to prove their innocence.
 Meanwhile he has charged the caretaker chairmen of the eight local government councils in the state and their deputies to take drastic measures in tackling insecurity, payroll fraud, absenteeism and other acts of indiscipline in the councils.
 Dickson who gave the charge during their swearing-in ceremony at the executive chambers of the Government House decried the over-bloated wage bill of the local government councils, which he noted, was responsible for their inability to meet financial obligations, especially on the payment of salaries to primary school teachers.
 
While identifying the absence of chairmen in their domains, as part of the problem in the administration of the local government system, he charged them to operate from the headquarters for the effective running of their councils.
He said henceforth, council chairmen are expected to seek approval from the Office of the Governor through the Ministry of Local Government Administration, if they have cause to travel adding that their six months tenure is very critical since the local government elections are scheduled to take place next year.