The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has directed staff of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) to strictly comply with public service rules and financial regulations, warning that violations will not be tolerated.
Dr. Mefor gave the directive during an oversight visit to the agency alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo. He reiterated Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive that all government financial transactions must be conducted through designated government accounts and not through private or corporate third-party accounts.
The commissioner condemned the practice of some staff using personal accounts for government transactions or operating private advertising businesses while serving in ANSAA, describing such actions as conflicts of interest and violations of public service rules and financial regulations.
“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 they serve,” he said.
Dr. Mefor also stressed the importance of utilising government-owned advertising infrastructure to disseminate official information, noting that the state has strategic billboard locations across major entry points and should not depend unnecessarily on private advertising practitioners for government messaging.
He observed that ANSAA has operated without a substantive Managing Director for four months and pledged to continue appealing to Governor Soludo to appoint one to enhance the agency’s operations.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the agency in enforcing compliance, the commissioner urged staff to discharge their regulatory duties professionally and with empathy.
“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. Obiageli Uchebo, reminded all staff, both civil servants and non-civil servants, to adhere strictly to the Public Service Code of Ethics and Financial Regulations.
She also reaffirmed the governor’s directive that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must operate properly designated and transparent accounts to strengthen accountability and financial discipline.
Responding on behalf of the agency, the Officer-in-Charge, Engr. Chika Ngobili, appreciated the commissioner’s team for the visit and pledged to correct identified lapses while ensuring appropriate sanctions for erring staff.
During the interaction, staff members raised concerns over the prolonged absence of a substantive Managing Director and the non-release of the agency’s 30 per cent revenue allocation for the past three months, which they said had affected the payment of workers’ salaries.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
the ministry assured them that the issues would be looked into.
