By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission has called on workers under its employ with fake certificates to voluntarily retire within three weeks or be dismissed without benefits.

This was contained in a letter dated April 26, 2024 referenced ANSG/LGSC/S/436/80 signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Nwattah S. I. Esq., for the Chairman.

Recall that some months back, the Commission had sacked six deputy directors for possessing fake certificates.

The Chairman of the Commission had then said the affected deputy directors claimed to have graduated from Imo State University, saying that the commission’s investigators were expecting more responses from other universities across Nigeria

According to the menu obtained by media, those to be affected are from Grade levels 02-24

To this end, the Commission said it would carry out certificate verification exercise for workers of the Commission any time soon with the sole purpose of fishing out those with fake certificates.

It was however gathered that a labour chief (name withheld) of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who allegedly forged the degree certificate of the Abia State University of the Faculty of Environmental Science is currently in trouble over the development.

Investigation showed that sequel to an enquiry, the Abia State University had disowned the labour chief’s degree certificate in a letter by the Registrar of the institution.

The recent memo from the Commission partly reads: “Following the incessant use of fake certificates in the system, the Local Government Service Commission is about to commence the verication of academic certificate of officers on grade level 02 -14.

“Consequent on the above, I am directed to convey the decision of the Board to allow those operating with fake certificates to voluntarily retire form service within three (3) weeks of this notice.

“Be further informed that after the grace period, appropriate sanctions including dismissal without benefits would be applied to any staff involved.

“The Heads of Local Government Administration and Heads of Personnel Management are hereby directed to paste this information on the Councils Notice Board for wider publicity and compliance.”