REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Head of Service and the Chairman Civil Service Commission to immediately conduct a thorough staff and personnel audit across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the member representing Onitsha North Constituency, Mrs Mimi Azikiwe during plenary at the legislative chambers in Awka.
Mrs Azikiwe described the staff and personnel audit as a critical exercise to systematically review human resource policies, practices, workforce capacity, employee records, skills gaps, training needs, and overall compliance with regulations.
According to her, such an audit when carried out ,would identify strengths and weaknesses, enhance performance management, improve employee relations, strengthen communication and conflict resolution mechanisms, and promote accountability and efficiency in the public service.
Mrs Azikiwe revealed that the last comprehensive personnel audit in Anambra State was conducted in 2018, hence the urgent need to do so, in order to contribute towards the efforts of the Governor Soludo led administration in repositioning the sector.
The member representing Ogbaru Constituency 1, Mr Noble Igwe , described the motion as “timely and wonderful step that would help recognize diligent workers and curb inefficiencies in the system.
Mr Johnbosco Akaegbobi of Nnewi South Constituency 2, while supporting the motion, noted that it will give a facelift to the drive of government policies while his Ogbaru Constituency 1 counterpart, Mr Noble Igwe, regretted that there is decay in the system which only personnel and staff audit will help to know the strength and weaknesses, encourage those who are diligent in service as well as know if new staff should be employed.
For Mr Nonso Atuchukwu representing Nnewi South Constituency 1, it was unthinkable that a local government with one functional vehicle would have over 30 drivers , a situation that calls for immediate audit of the personnel both at the state and local government levels.
Contributing, the Member representing Anambra East Constituency, Mr Obi Nweke, remarked that local government system was where truancy was practiced in the highest order and needed to be checkmated in the interest of ensuring effective service delivery.
The Speaker of the House , Mr Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary, urged the state government to treat the resolution as a matter of public importance and ensure prompt implementation.
Radio Nigeria correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the law makers highlighted key benefits of the staff audit to include, reduced legal risks, improved productivity, better decision-making, cost savings, stronger employee engagement, and alignment of the workforce with evolving institutional goals of the present administration.
