The ongoing verification of civil and public servants in Delta State has unearthed alarming levels of fraud, with widespread cases of age falsification, certificate forgery, and other sharp practices perpetrated by desperate employees determined to retain their positions after retirement.
Chairman of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Roseline Amioku, disclosed the shocking revelations during an interactive session with the management team of the Delta Printing and Publishing Corporation (DPPC), publishers of The Pointer Newspaper.
According to her, the verification exercise has revealed hundreds of cases involving forged First School Leaving Certificates, falsified ages, and impersonation, including instances where individuals used their children’s certificates to secure jobs and even promotions.
She narrated one case in which a woman presented her daughter’s certificate and rose through the ranks with it.
“When confronted, she denied it initially, but later confessed. I told her to resign immediately or face prosecution. She resigned on the spot,” Amioku said.
The Commission chairman emphasized that the exercise is not a witch-hunt but a necessary cleansing of the system to ensure integrity in the state’s workforce and create opportunities for younger job seekers.
“It is unfair to the government and to our children when parents refuse to retire and continue falsifying records to remain in service.
“We have approval from the highest authorities, and we are ready to defend our actions in court. The process is transparent, and all evidence is being carefully documented,” she stated.
Amioku described some of the fraudulent practices as “shocking,” citing cases where affidavits were deliberately manipulated, school registers were forged, and fake baptismal cards were submitted.
In one instance, an employee who claimed to be born in 1974 was later discovered to have been born in 1960, after adding 14 years to his age.
“We have eagle eyes on every file. Some affidavits appear genuine until you cross-check with confidential records.
“Once a discrepancy is found, we take instant action—removing the individual from the payroll immediately,” she added.
The Commission has already dismissed several workers caught with fake certificates, including two who were employed as recently as 2023. Others are being compelled to retire quietly, while some may be required to refund salaries collected illegally.
Mrs. Amioku stressed that the Commission will continue to pursue the exercise vigorously to sanitize the system.
“We cannot reward illegality. Anyone caught falsifying documents must face the consequences,” she said.
Credit: Leadership Newspaper except headline
