By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Over one thousand staff members of the moribund Anambra State Water Corporation have lost their jobs following a formal sack by the State Government.

Confirming the sack, the state Commissioner for Public Utilities and Water Resources, Engr. Emeka Ezenwanne, said they were sacked in line with the Anambra State Water Law 2015 which repealed the edit establishing the agency and other general conduct of their staff.

He said: “Anambra State Government under Governor Willie Obiano is a law abiding government. Yes, we have issued letter of termination to the former staff of Anambra State Water Board Corporation. The letter is in line with the Anambra State water law 2015 that repealed the edit that established the water board.

“Again, they have not come up to account for the money they took from the state government account through garnishing. EFCC is currently investigating it.

“They were sacked due to their general conduct which is affecting the entire process including the unbundling processes stated in the 2015 Anambra State Water Law. After the garnishing, they have continued to make other efforts…we don’t know what they are up to.”

Ezenwanne noted that the State Government was still providing water to the populace through Urban water supply and others.

A notice signed by one Rev Dr P C Amanzechukwu was reportedly pasted last month at the headquarters of Ministry of Public Utilities said that the termination of the appointment of the affected staff members took effect from 2015.

The notice reads: “The officers-in-charge, Anambra State Water Board Corporation (defunct), Awka. Formal notification of the termination of appointment of the erstwhile staff of the Anambra state Water Corporation.

“I am directed to refer to the Executive Council’s directive of December 9, 2019 and to formally convey the notification of the termination of appointment of the erstwhile staff of the defunct water corporation with effect from June 2, 2015 based in the cumulative effects of the Anambra state water supply and sanitation Law 2015 and reorganisation of the state’s water policy.

“Please advice the staff to report to the ministry to collect their letter and take necessary steps to protect the moveable and immovable assets of the company.”

In his reaction to the sack, a retired staff of the corporation, Mr Hilary Izuagu, insisted that they were still employees of the state civil service.

He said: “The State Government is owing us salary from January 2012 to July 2020 and still counting.

“I urge the State Government to abide by all the provisions in the Anambra State Water and Sanitation Law 2015 and other extant laws of the land while dealing with us.”

Izuagu explained that the money the agency took through garnishing was paid to their deserving staff accordingly.

He denied knowledge of EFCC investigation of the disbursement.

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