...Condemns Truancy And Dereliction Of Duty 

The Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Enugu State, Prof. Osy Okanya with members of the commission and the State NULGE executive have commenced monitoring visits to the 17 Local Government councils in the state with an unannounced visit to Aninri Local Government and Awgu Local Government Headquarters today, Monday April 15, 2024.     

The visits came on the heels of reported cases of truancy and dereliction of duty by staff across the 17 Local Government councils in the state.

The LGSC team, which arrived Aninri Local Government at exactly 11:10 am noted with utmost dismay and disgust the low turn out of workers. The team led by Prof. Osy Okanya went to each office and took an on the spot attendance of workers present.

Speaking to the few staff on duty, Prof. Okanya registered his displeasure over the prevailing poor attendance to work by staff of the local government. 

According to him, "it is unfortunate that at the time His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has conclusively resolved all issues around the welfare and conditions of service of staff that this level of irresponsibility and nonchalance is being witnessed in the service."    

He noted that Governor Peter Mbah, had within six months of taking the oaths of office, approved the full implementation of the minimum wage and its consequential adjustment for the staff in the service of the Commission. The governor has further commenced the resolution of the lingering non-enrolment of retiring staff of the commission on the pension scheme. So far, there are indications that all retiring staff of the commission will be automatically enrolled from June this year without waiting for upwards of two years to get enrolled.

Prof. Okanya wondered why this wonderful disposition by Governor Mbah is not being reciprocated. He indicated that the commission has taken the decision to withhold the salaries of all those absent from duty duringany monitoring visit. He warned that should any staff absent himself or herself from duty on three occasions, the Commission will have no other option than to ...such staff out of office. 

On arrival in Awgu Local Government, the team witnessed a better turnout of workers and as well took attendance of workers present according to their respective departments.

Prof. Okanya also addressed the worker present on the need for regular attendance to duty and encouraged them to take their duty seriously to appreciate and encourage Governor Mbah for implementing the minimum wage for the Local government employees and for his promise to start the payment of pension to all the retired/retiring Local government staff as and when due with effect from June 2024.

He reiterated that the monitoring exercise would last for three months, and staff found absent for three consecutive times would be dismissed from service.

He was also emphatic that only staff who were present at the time of the visit would receive this month's salary and othermo ths.

In his separate speech, the NULGE state President, Comrade Udeagha Ani, who was in the entourage said the turn up of workers was not satisfactory as workers should justify their payment by attending to duty to show appreciation to the Governor who is interested in the welfare of the workers. 

In the monitoring team were the the Honourable member II, Hon. Peter Nnaji, Member III, Hon. Mrs Florence Igboji, Member IV, Hon. Eugene Odoh, the Secretary to the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Charles Mbah, the LGSC Director of Administration, Mr Obinna Madu, and other statutory officers of the Commission. The monitoring exercise will continue tomorrow. There is no indication from the commission which local government councils will be monitored tomorrow.