The Anambra Head of Service has advised disenchanted civil servants to submit voluntary resignation letters rather than shortchanging the government by receiving monies not worked for.
The Head of Service gave the advice as a special disciplinary committee began probing defaulting workers over alleged lateness and absenteeism in the state public service.
The affected workers appeared before the committee following Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s unscheduled visit to the State Secretariat in March.
The committee, constituted in line with the Public Service Rules 2021, sat on Friday at the Office of the Head of Service, state secretariat complex, Awka.
Violation of Public Service Rules
Chairperson of the panel and Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Nkiru Nwankwo, said lateness and absenteeism violated public service rules and constituted a breach of contract of employment.
She warned that such offences were punishable under the rules.
According to her, the present administration was committed to repositioning the public service for efficiency and effectiveness.
Nwankwo urged workers to take their duties seriously, adding that those unwilling to comply with extant rules would be shown the way out.
She advised workers with genuine reasons for absence or lateness to follow due process by officially notifying the appropriate authorities in writing and on time.
“Disenchanted workers should submit voluntary resignation letters rather than shortchanging the government by receiving monies not worked for,” she said.
Change of Attitude to Work
Also speaking, a member of the committee and Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, Mr Chuma Uwolloh, urged workers to change their attitude towards public service and treat their duties with seriousness.
He noted that failure to adjust would lead to continued violations of the rules, especially as the state strives to align with global best practices.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chinyere Nwabachili, cautioned workers against prioritising personal businesses over official duties.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr Jerome Ilokwu, said the session marked the assessment stage of the disciplinary process.
He added that decisions would be based on responses to queries issued to the affected workers and that outcomes would be communicated in due course.
Meanwhile, the committee assured that the Head of Service and her team would intensify unscheduled visits to ministries, departments and agencies to ensure compliance with public service rules.
