afrol News, 26 November - Gabonese authorities have began a census of civil servants as the government strives to enhance governance and administration, as well as combat incessant corruption among government employees.

In a statement issued by the office of the Prime Minister, the census was profound and different from previous census ever carried out by the west Africa state. The last exercise carried out in 2000, revealed the existence of ghost workers on the payroll.

The statement said that biometric technology would be included to test the identity civil servants and to rid the government system of corrupt officials.

Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe Mba who has been advocating for good governance and reduction in government expenditure, has vowed that those who have wrongfully received state income will be punished.

In 2006, the number of Gabnese civil servants was estimated at 58,813, with a wage bill of 370 billion CFA francs (US$ 850 million), a local newspaper reported.

The prime minister added that a census of government workers should help to make the administration more effective, since in the past two or three years, the pay envelope have increased considerably without the desired improvement in efficiency.

The statement, said the government will undertake a redeployment of civil servants, because some administrations are overflowing with employees while other areas face severe shortages.

The new president of the oil-rich equatorial African country, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was sworn in on 16 October, has also vowed to fight corruption and to streamline the administration.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories