In a shocking turn of events, the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has made a startling discovery that has sent shockwaves throughout the state. It has come to light that a staggering 59 deceased individuals are still receiving salaries from the 21 local government areas in Anambra State.
According to The Pond News, this revelation has exposed a massive fraud scheme, as the state grapples with the pervasive issue of “ghost workers” and endeavours to cleanse its public payroll.
In an interview held in Awka, Mr. Vin Ezeaka, the Chairman of the Commission and a distinguished lawyer, shared this alarming finding with the press. He revealed that the discovery was made during an extensive staff personnel audit, initiated to restore integrity to the local government system in the state.
Mr. Ezeaka disclosed that the audit revealed an astonishing number of 427 individuals who were inexplicably on the local government payroll without any trace of employment. Out of this staggering figure, 59 were deceased staff members of the Commission, who had been receiving salaries long after their passing. Additionally, 40 retired individuals were found to still draw salaries from the commission, while a perplexing 11 staff members living abroad had their names inexplicably retained on the government payroll.
The Chairman further revealed that among the ghost workers, some were associated with Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka and Nwafor Orizu College of Education in Nsugbe. This discovery has sent shockwaves through the educational institutions, raising questions about their internal processes and accountability.
Mr. Ezeaka asserted, “We discovered 59 deceased staff who are still receiving salaries, 40 retirees also receiving salaries, and above all, we discovered 222 workers on the payroll who nobody could identify as workers in any of the 21 LGAs, and we have many of them living abroad and still receiving salaries. So, we wrote to the Joint Account, JAC, to remove them from the payroll.”
The Chairman expressed his resolve to ensure that those involved in this illicit activity face the full consequences of their actions, in accordance with civil service regulations. He emphasized that the investigation would be thorough, and those caught in this unholy act would face the full force of the law.
In a related development, the Commission also uncovered a certificate racketeering cartel operating within the local government system. A committee was established to investigate individuals with suspicious certificates working in various local government areas of Anambra State. Subsequently, a screening committee was formed, which revealed numerous cases of fraudulent certification. Astonishingly, out of the 20 individuals who presented certificates from Imo State University, 14 were subjected to scrutiny, leading to the discovery that six of them held counterfeit credentials.
The Commission’s Chairman declared, “We must sanitize the system in line with the mandate given to us by Governor Chukwuma Soludo so that the genuine workers who sacrifice their time and energy can get value for their service, and not looters who do not contribute anything to the development of Anambra State.”
In a resolute move to address these issues, the Commission has not hesitated to take decisive action. Even senior local government staff, including Deputy Directors and Treasurers, have been dismissed for presenting fraudulent certificates.
The Chairman extended an amnesty period for those employees using forged certificates within the local government system. They were given an opportunity to voluntarily come forward and report themselves, lest they face termination when the amnesty expires.
The ongoing local government and certificate verification committees, as emphasized by the Chairman, are not motivated by witch-hunts but are purely aimed at purging the system of corruption and ensuring transparency and accountability.
As Anambra State grapples with these alarming revelations, it is clear that a formidable effort is underway to cleanse the local government system of fraudulent practices and pave the way for a more efficient and trustworthy administration. The people of Anambra State eagerly await the outcome of these investigations and the restoration of integrity to their governance.
