By Jude Michael
Local Government Workers across the 21 council areas of Anambra State, last Sunday, dismissed as an untrue, false and unfounded, reports making the rounds that ₦16,800,000 largesse provided by Governor Chukwuma Soludo was either mismanaged or diverted.
A viral social media report attributed to one Ekene Okoye, had claimed that the ₦20, 000 Governor Chukwuma Soludo gave to 40 workers per local government area as transport fare at the opening ceremony of Anambra State Local Government Commission Service (ASLGSC) Week held, June 25, was diverted by the Commission’s Chairman, Barr. Vincent Ifeanyi Ezeaka.
But the workers however dismissed the report as a fake, malicious and unfounded publication, noting that all those in attendance at the programme duly received their shares of the largesse as pronounced by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Speaking through the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the 2024 LG Commission Service Week, Comrade Nnamdi Nweke, the commission further hailed the governor for granting approval and providing all the relevant support that led to the successful event.
Nweke, who wondered why the author could delve into what he described as unethical practices, urged the media to always verify their information for balancing and objectivity to avoid misinforming the public or damaging people’s reputation.
He described the viral report as a spurious and odious misinformation from mischief makers and enemies of the commission targeted at maligning the hard earned reputation of their Chairman, Ezeaka.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director/Public Relations Officer, Local Government Service Commission, Comrade Agu Chidi, added that the author of the report had an ulterior motive of rubbishing what he described as the monumental achievements of the Commission in the implementation of the Governor’s Local Government Reforms, and zero tolerance to corruption.
‘Barrister Vin Ezeaka, the Commission’s Chairman, had shown an uncommon dedication and exemplary commitment in pursuit of the lofty ideals of the Governor in the transformation of the local government system, a development which has won the commission national laurels.
‘For the sake of clarity, Barrister Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka never disbursed any money, but ordered that the attendees transport fares be shared to all the local government workers at Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, as directed by Mr Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. The instruction was carried out with official dispatch in the presence of some Labour Leaders.
‘All those who attended the ceremony have been paid, contrary to the erroneous and devious impression created by the enemies of the state. They all collected the ₦20,000 transport allowance as directed by the Governor and the lunch package provided by the Commission. It is therefore only in the weird imagination of mischief makers that the money was not appropriately shared,” he added.
According to him, the just concluded Local Government Service Commission Week was hugely successful and had become the source of envy for those who, in their mischief, chose to paint the Commission in lurid colors to achieve less than noble intentions.
‘We consider this rather absurd and surprising that some uninformed, disgruntled elements would go to the extent of making such baseless allegations against the person of Barrister Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka whose pedigree as an incorruptible personality and impeccable record of zero tolerance for corruption have remained shining beacons of progress for everyone to behold.
‘The Commission wishes to state, unequivocally, that no amount of vile propaganda by mischievous elements will distract it from the mission of leaving behind a legacy of service in the local government service in line with Mr Governor’s mandate. We, therefore, warn all those who circulate such false information to retrace their steps and support genuine efforts at transformation of the Local Government system.’
