The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday pledged its support for Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s staff screening to remove fraudulent civil servants from the government payroll.

The exercise is partly targeted at age cheats and workers on prolonged leave of absence. The NLC Chairman Goodluck Oforbruku expressed the union’s concerns after the screening committee discovered that some workers had stayed beyond the statutory 60 years retirement age.

At a meeting with organised labour in Asaba, Civil Service Commission Chairman Roseline Amioku said some workers lied about their age to defraud the state.

The screening committee chairman said: “Beyond understanding the truth that some civil servants lied about their age, I urge the leadership of NLC to continue on the path of openness.

“The NLC should sensitize its members on the need to play by the rules and eschew the tendency to alter their age and years of service fraudulently.” Oforbruku declared the NLC’s support for the exercise.

He said: “With the explanations, the NLC now has a fuller understanding of the issue. The NLC will no longer destabilize the work of the committee.”