The Anambra Head of Service (HoS), Mrs Ngozi Iwouno, on Friday warned workers in the state public service against age falsification and other forms of malpractice.
Iwouno gave the warning in Awka during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
She urged workers to shun such unpatriotic acts, which hinder the progress of the civil service, and instead embrace practices that enhance service delivery.
“We have workers who submitted unverifiable credentials during employment and others who altered their credentials. There are also those who lied on oath about their ages. When age takes its toll on them, they lose the agility required for optimal performance,” the HoS said.
She urged female journalists and other media practitioners to expose such acts as watchdogs of society.
“This is to dissuade civil servants from engaging in these acts and make the service more efficient. You should uphold the ethics of journalism and prioritise factual reportage. Unverified reports can damage reputations, misrepresent the government, and mislead the public,” she said.
Iwouno noted that the Anambra government was doing everything possible to improve workers’ welfare through attractive welfare packages and other incentives.
She, however, urged workers to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.
“Workers, as the engine room of government, should shun truancy and abide by civil service rules. There was a situation where Governor Charles Soludo paid an unscheduled visit to ministries and found many civil servants absent from their offices around 10 a.m.,” she said.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ in Anambra, Mrs Tochukwu Ifejirika, congratulated the HoS on her appointment and thanked the governor for giving women opportunities in leadership.
Ifejirika appealed to the HoS to prioritise workers’ welfare for optimal service delivery.
“We seek your permission for our members in the civil service to attend the association’s activities during the annual International Women’s Day,” she said.
Miss Monica Okechukwu, a member of the association, appealed to the HoS to address the non-payment of gratuity to retirees of the Anambra Broadcasting Service since 2017.
