Anambra LG Commission clears Chairman, Ezeaka of fund mismanagement

Felix Oti, Awka

Chairman of the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission, Barr. Ifeanyi Ezeaka has been cleared of fund mismanagement by the commission.

The Commission, through its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Agu Chidi asserts that the allegation of mismanagement of monies given by Gov. Charles Chukwuma Soludo as transport fares to the local government workers is misleading and false in its entirety.

He therefore urged the public to disregard the spurious allegation from mischief makers who he said were out to marlign the hard earned reputation of the Commission’s chairman.

Recall that there has been a viral video circulating on the social media which purported that the Commission’s chairman diverted large sums of money gifted to the workers by the state Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo during the opening ceremony of the Anambra State Local Government Service Week held recently at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women,’s Development Centre, Awka.

The title of the viral video is, “Anambra workers lament diversion of Transport largess by Gov. Charles Soludo to 21 local Government Areas”

In a statement made available to newsmen by the Information and Communication Unit of the local government service commission Awka, signed by Comrade Agu Chidi, the commission explained that the fund was never handled by the Chairman himself but he directed that the money be shared according to Mr. Governor’s directive.

“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 the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center 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 N20, 000 transport allowance as directed by the Governor and the lunch package provided by the Commission.

“Their aim was to rubbish 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.

“It is therefore only in the weird imagination of mischief makers that the money was not appropriately shared.

“The just concluded Local Government Service Commission week was hugely successful and this has 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 commission 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

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the publicity committee of the 2024 Anambra state local government service week who doubles as the Head, Department of Education and Social Development, Anambra West Local Government Area, Comrade Nnamdi Nweke regretted how a man who came with a genuine interest of transforming the local government system in Anambra state could be accused of fund mismanagement.

“It was a calculated attempt to destroy the reputable image of the Chairman of the commission, Barr. Vin Ifeanyi Ezeaka who planned a successful one week program intended to transform local government system positively which attracted all workers in 21 local government areas including the traditional rulers and friends of the commission.

“The false publication in the social media was intentionally made to bastardize and tarnish the reputation of this Chairman who have done what other commission chairmen could not do since the creation of Anambra state .He maintained..