Local Government staff who indulge in frivolous affidavit to change their records will face severe disciplinary measures.
This indication was given inPort Harcourtby the Chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini JP while addressing the workforce of the Port Harcourt Local Government in continuation of the commission’s tour to councils in the state.
Chief Nmerukini said “some staff have reduced their age to the extent that their children are now older than them”.
The chairman said “further some have also changed their records to the point that they passed their first school leaving certificate when they are in their mother’s wombs”.
He made mention of a case on his table where every documents including letter of, certificates and age declarations are all covered with affidavits and said such cases are not acceptable the commission.
Chief Nmerukini decried the high level of fraud committed by the middle class staff in the service, adding that staff who involved themselves in such acts should change or be prepared to face the music.
He advised staff to be serious with their jobs for which they are paid salaries, saying that failure to do so the commission would descend on them. In his speech, the commissioner in charge of the council in the commission, Barrister Cyprian Chukwu said thatPort Harcourtbeing a very important local government in the country demand that staff posted to the council should know that they are like a mirror to other councils.
Barrister Chukwu informed the staff that affidavit sworn falsely could lead them to jail and advised staff to avoid or stop the habit of frequent petition writings against each other which he said was counter productivity.
The chairman of the Port Harcourt Local Government thanked the commission for posting fine and responsible principal officers to work in the council.
He complained of a very large workforce in the council and requested for training of staff to enhance efficiency and increased productivity in the service.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Local Government Administration, Barrister Franklin Ajinwo, said the workers are in very high spirit because staff welfare was the first charge of the council, this he said was the reason almost every staff want to be posted to the council.
Barrister Ajinwo said salaries and allowances of the staff have been paid up to date including the 70 percent consolidated which has been implemented and all arrears cleared.
The Head of Local Government Administration who is also the State president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said there was cordial relationship between the political class and the civil servants and there was unity of purpose for the development of the local government area. ###
Jeff Oguike
