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Payroll verification uncovers irregularities, generating estimated annual savings of over ₦10bn.
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Digital platform enables civil servants to verify payroll records, deductions, and salary details.
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Electronic submission of salary variations replaces paper-based processes.
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Digital ticketing platform generates ₦44.9m from 201,889 tickets.
November 11, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Government says it is saving over ₦10 billion annually through digital payroll reforms that have exposed irregularities, strengthened personnel verification and improved transparency in the management of workers’ salaries.
The Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr Frank Ekpenyong, disclosed this during the ongoing ministerial media briefing in Uyo, where he presented the ministry’s scorecard and outlined the impact of technology-driven reforms on government operations and service delivery.
Ekpenyong said the payroll verification exercise had helped the state establish a cleaner and more reliable personnel database, eliminating irregularities that previously contributed to unnecessary expenditure on salaries.
He explained that the reforms had also made it possible for civil servants to access their payroll information, verify their records and monitor deductions through a digital platform, thereby improving transparency and accountability in the payment system.
According to him, payroll officers across government establishments can now submit salary-related variations electronically instead of relying on the previous paper-based process, reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving efficiency.
The Commissioner said the reforms formed part of the administration’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at deploying technology to strengthen governance, improve revenue accountability and make public services more accessible.
On revenue generation, Ekpenyong disclosed that the state’s digital ticketing platform had generated ₦44.9 million from the sale of 201,889 tickets as of the close of business on the day preceding the briefing.
He said the platform was designed to improve revenue collection, minimise leakages and ensure that transactions were properly captured and accounted for.
The commissioner also disclosed that the internet service deployed at the Victor Attah International Airport had recorded 8,011 unique users and 5.8 terabytes of data consumption since its activation in August.
He said the facility was part of efforts to improve digital connectivity and enhance the experience of passengers and other airport users.
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In the education sector, the ministry reported that 23,535 students from 131 tertiary institutions had benefited from the state’s ₦50,000 bursary scheme, with beneficiaries drawn from all 31 local government areas.
Ekpenyong further highlighted special financial support for students living with disabilities, with undergraduates receiving ₦250,000 each and postgraduate students getting ₦300,000.
The briefing also featured the state’s command and control centre, equipped with 250 surveillance cameras, comprising 50 number-plate recognition cameras and 200 standard cameras.
The facility, designed for round-the-clock surveillance, is managed by the Ministry of Internal Security as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen security monitoring through technology.
The commissioner said the ministry would continue to expand the application of digital solutions across government institutions to improve efficiency, transparency, and access to public services.
The presentation, coordinated by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, forms part of the ongoing ministerial media briefings through which members of the State Executive Council are providing updates on their respective ministries’ activities and achievements under Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
