In a startling revelation, the Anambra Local Government System has been rocked by a massive scandal, resulting in the termination of appointments for six directors and the expulsion of 222 ghost workers due to certificate forgery. This revelation was made public by the Chairman of the Anambra Local Government Service Commission, Barrister Vincent Ifeanyi Ezeaka.
The investigation also uncovered shocking instances of financial impropriety, with two staff members of tertiary institutions implicated in fraudulent salary payments from the local government coffers for the past four years, despite no longer being in service.
Chairman Ezeaka stated, “We discovered six directors with questionable certificates and sent them home. Additionally, a committee has been set up for verification, chaired by retired Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ndidi Onuigbo, to screen employees from levels 1 to 14 for certificate validity, age falsification, and date of first appointment.”
The crackdown on malpractice is part of Governor Charles Soludo’s agenda to cleanse the system. Since June, the Local Government Service Commission has conducted comprehensive verification and biometric/physical capturing of staff across the state’s twenty-one local government areas.
Ezeaka emphasized the importance of rooting out corruption at the grassroots level, stating, “What we are doing is part of Governor Soludo’s solution agenda, aiming for a new era of integrity and efficiency in Anambra state. By sanitizing the local government, we pave the way for the overall betterment of our communities and state.”
The total workforce in the Anambra state local government system now stands at 4,300 employees, following the removal of ghost workers and those involved in certificate fraud. This concerted effort signifies a step towards transparency and accountability in governance, as Anambra strives for a brighter future under Governor Soludo’s leadership.
