Ondo State Government has concluded arrangements to commence new biometric verification known as Biometric Verification, Time And Attendance (BIOVETAS) for Local Government workers in all the 18 Local Government areas of the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde made this known during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in his office in Akure, on  Biometric Verification, Time And Attendance (BIOVETAS) And Payroll Solution with selected partners to ensure the success of the verification exercise,

The partners are First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Highpoint Dynamic System Limited, Lagos, Data Infosec Lagos.

According to a release signed by the Media Manager of Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Banjo Egunjobi, Abegunde  said the exercise was designed to provide the government with accurate and reliable record of its personnel as well as clean-up its payroll.

 The SSG, who explained that the aim of the exercise is to come out with the exact figure of workers in the 18 local government areas with a view to blocking financial leakages, appealed to all the workers and the stakeholders to cooperate with the state government.

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan explained that the biodata of each staff would be linked with their Bank Verification Number (BVN) and productive hours would be computed to a system to eliminate fraud and enhance productivity.

The commissioner who said the exercise is not to witch-hunt any worker but is to would enhance effective and efficient local government administrative system as well as help the state government to make adequate plan for the third tier of government in the state.

He noted that the exercise was in the best interest of the local government workers, adding that the state government was committed to uplifting the welfare of its workers.

The Southwest Regional Director of First City Monument Bank, Mr. Adelaja Adeleye, and the Managing Director /  Chief Executive Officer of Higherpoint Dynamics System Limited, Mr John Oyewole, explained that the exercise has been implemented in many states in Nigeria, assuring that the positive impact of the programme would be felt in the state within few months.