The ongoing verification process in the state's civil service, according to the Abia State Government, has saved the state 220 million naira on monthly wage bills.

Following a meeting she had with Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia on Monday, the state's Accountant General, Deaconess Njum Onyemenam, disclosed the information.

The Accountant General added that the verification process was still ongoing and the state hoped to record more savings after stating that the significant savings were achieved using a unified payment system.

"So far, the ongoing verification of state employees, local government employees, and pensioners has allowed us to save N220 million.

According to the Accountant General, "at least 2,300 ghost names have been removed from the payrolls using the unified payment system, and we hope to continue identifying more as we carry out the exercise."

She confirmed that, in accordance with Governor Otti's directive, the state government last week paid retirees their June pensions as well as the arrears of April salaries left over from the previous administration.

Onyemenam added that local government staff, who were skipped when the June salaries were paid due to their alleged failure to submit their verified payment schedule, will receive their salaries this week.