Mefor Orders Strict Compliance With Public Service Rules And Financial Regulations In ANSAA
By Rose Oranye
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, on Thursday, warned workers of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) against violation of public service rules and financial regulations.
Dr Mefor, who gave the warning during an oversight visit to the agency, alongside the ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Obiageli Uchebo, said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed that all government businesses must not be run through third-party accounts, be they private or corporate.
He also frowned upon the activities of some staff who use personal accounts for government transactions or run private businesses while serving in ANSAA, saying they are a conflict of interest and criminal.
"I understand that many of you run private advertising agencies and use ANSAA platforms to source jobs. You execute the jobs and then remit what you consider to be ANSAA’s share. This is a conflict of interest and violates public service rules and financial regulations.
“As Commissioner, I cannot be a government contractor. It is the same principle: ANSAA officers cannot be agents and contractors for the agency you serve,” Dr Mefor added.
He stressed the need to have means of advertising government messages, insisting that they don't have to pay private practitioners to disseminate government information. "We have strategic places at the various entrances of the state to mount billboards to pass information. We don't need to be paying private people."
The commissioner noted that ANSAA has been without a substantive head for four months and promised to continue reminding Mr Governor to appoint one for smooth operations, even as he acknowledged the difficulties faced by the agency in the discharge of its regulatory duties, as Ndị Anambra are not always compliant with law and order.
“Anambra people are not always compliant with law and order. Your job as regulators is tough. I will continue to advocate, based on my training, that we must approach our work with a human touch. There is life after this work,” he said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uchebo, advised all staff, whether civil servants or not, to always comply with the Public Service Code of Ethics and Financial Regulations.
She reiterated the governor's directive that all MDAs' accounts must be properly designated and transparent to ensure accountability.
Engr Chika Ngobili, the agency's officer in charge, thanked the commissioner’s team for their visit and committed to rectifying past mistakes and sanctioning erring staff.
Among the concerns raised by the staff are the appointment of a substantive MD and the issue of 30 per cent of income yet to be released to the agency in the last three months, resulting in non-payment of workers, which the ministry promised to look into.
A moment of silence was observed for the deceased acting managing director of the agency, the late Mr Chijioke Agbayim.
More photos below.
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