The Chairman and members of the Local Government Service Commission, Enugu State have commenced monitoring visits to the 17 Local Government councils in the state following reported cases of truancy and dereliction of duty by staff.
The team paid an unannounced visit to Aninri and Awgu Local Government Headquarters Monday April 15, 2024. They arrived Aninri Local Government at exactly 11:10 am where they noted with utmost dismay and disgust the low turn out of workers.
The team led by the commission’s chairman, 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 at a time the Governor of the State, Dr. Peter Mbah had resolved all issues around the welfare and conditions of service of council workers.
He said the commission has taken the decision to withhold the salaries of all those absent from duty during any monitoring visit while any staff that is absent from duty on three occasions will be shown the way out.
The team witnessed a better turnout at Awgu Local Government and took attendance of workers present according to their respective departments.
Prof. Okanya told the workers 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 retired local government staff as and when due with effect from June 2024.
He reiterated that the monitoring exercise would last for three months, and that only staff found present at the time of the visit would receive salary for the month
In his speech, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Loca Government Employees, NULGE, Udeagha Ani, who was in the entourage said the turn out of workers was not satisfactory and urged them workers to turn a new leaf.