SIR: We read with astonishment your story “Ghost workers in PHCN” The Guardian, March 5, 2012) because the entire story does not in any way state the fact on the biometric verification conducted by Creative HR Solution (a consultant) on the status of PHCN employees. It is untrue that 17,000 ghost workers were detected during the biometric exercise.

The biometric exercise, which started in October 2011 is yet to be concluded as we agreed during the February negotiations with Federal Government that the exercise will only be concluded March 12, 2012.  Besides, a committee comprising government representatives, PHCN management and the unions was set up to determine the total figure of casuals and regularise their appointments in line with our earlier agreement with government. That committee will regularise the figure and meet on March 14, 2012.

About 37,495 permanent staff have so far been captured while 4,000 are yet to be cleared for various reasons adduced by the Consultant as at the date earlier mentioned. At least 13,975 casuals were captured biometrically, 4,106 were cleared, leaving a balance of 7,869 as at February 18, 2012. The Consultant, as at that day had not concluded its assignment. He was given up to March 12, 2012 to do so.

It is, therefore, inappropriate for your paper to claim the existence of ghost workers when the outcome of the verification exercise is yet to be known. Your correspondent tried to give the workers and its unions bad names. We abhor this deliberate intention to create friction between us and the government and to jeopardise the ongoing negotiations.

We shall object to any divide and rule tactics by anybody or from any quarters. We shall do all things to ensure that our members’ rights are not compromised.

Cmrd (Barr) A. Ogunsegha,

General Secretary

Cmrd (Engr) B.I. Opara,

President General

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