Biometrics and Fraud Control in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service

Ubong E. Umoh & Michael E. Ekpo

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Abstract

Fraud has been on the increase in the Akwa Ibom State civil service due to the lack of proper identification mechanisms for employees who commit identity deception. This led to the adoption of biometrics to control the incidences of identity deception and corruption. This study set out to assess the effects of biometrics on fraud control in selected ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Akwa Ibom State civil service. To achieve this objective, a survey research design was adopted and data was gathered from a primary source. Findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between employee identity numbers, electronic payroll system and fraud control in Akwa Ibom State Civil Service. From what was found, feasibility concerns, lack of privacy concerns, application issues, data leaks, and the issue of harnessing EIN with NIN, among others, posed great challenges to the implementation of biometrics. It was concluded that the biometrics system successfully established an accurate and digitized database of pensioners, and eliminated duplicate payments, ghost pensioners and underpayments. It was therefore recommended that government should ensure that every employee in the civil service has an Employee Identity Number (EIN) to ensure continuity, maintenance and adequacy in employees' records.

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