Bayelsa State Government says, it has lost over N7.04 billion in the last 2 years to a syndicate of payroll fraudsters in the local government councils.
Speaking during a joint press briefing on Thursday in Yenagoa, on the progress of the current reforms in the public service, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso- Markson decried the magnitude of fraud being perpetrated by fraudsters in the sector.

Mr. Iworiso-Markson also described the 70% non-academic staff in the primary schools as unacceptable, stating that, the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration inherited N1.3 billion local government teachers monthly wage bill, which has been reduced to about N1.027 billion in the last 2 years.
The Information boss noted that, the reforms exercise was a continuous one, pointing out that, tremendous progress had been achieved without which, the local government system would have experienced total collapse.
Mr. Iworiso-Markson who also briefed newsmen on the outcome of the 94th State Executive Council meeting, said henceforth, local government councils would make contributions to the State Education Development Trust Fund.