The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has suspended multiple staff members across three local government areas—Anambra East, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo—following widespread absenteeism and falsified attendance records. Commission Chairman Chief Vincent Ezeaka revealed the crackdown after unscheduled inspections exposed a culture of truancy, with senior officials among those implicated.
Ezeaka, speaking in Awka, disclosed that routine reports had falsely claimed full worker attendance, but spot checks told a different story. At Anambra East LGA, initial suspensions were later reversed, but the commission’s subsequent visit to Nnewi South uncovered staggering negligence. Of 109 staff members, fewer than 34 reported for duty over a month-long period beginning January 2025. “I arrived before 10 a.m. and waited until 11 a.m.—only the Director of Personnel showed up. Even the Head of Local Government Administration and directors were absent,” Ezeaka stated.
The situation mirrored at Ekwusigo LGA, where a mere 24 out of 97 workers were present during a surprise visit last Wednesday. Ezeaka criticized senior staff for failing to enforce discipline, noting their suspension was tied not only to their own absenteeism but also to their inability to manage subordinates. “Biometric machines for tracking attendance were non-functional. Leadership is about accountability, and they neglected this duty,” he emphasized.
The chairman lamented the collapse of productivity, linking it to systemic absenteeism. “Truancy and lateness have become normalized. How can services thrive when workers shun their posts?” he questioned. The suspensions aim to recalibrate work ethics, with Ezeaka vowing stricter oversight to curb the trend.
