The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has directed heads of public sector institutions to conduct internal payroll audits.

This is to identify and eliminate any existing fraud or anomalies.

The Commission will be embarking on the nationwide payroll monitoring exercise in collaboration with relevant stakeholders from April 1.

It entreats all boards, councils and heads of public sector institutions to conduct their own internal payroll audit and clean up ahead of that exercise.

By this communication, banks and individuals in receipt of fraudulent salaries and allowances are also advised to take steps to refund same, and desist from further fraudulent practices or face the law.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Benjamin Arthur said the move aims at removing ghost names from the payroll.

“If there are fraudulent practices we need to deal with it drastically so that the wage bill does not become excessive,” he said.

The CEO explained that it has become imperative that this exercise is undertaken not just as an event but "it has to be a continuous process."

Mr Arthur, however, added that the public will be updated on the progress of the crackdown at the appropriate time.