Business moguls, Chief Cletus Ibeto, Chief Innocent Chukkwuma, Chairman Innoson Motors and the President, Ogbaru Main Market, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu ,were among prominent Anambra citizens bestowed with Anambra State Local Government Service Commission Community awards.
Others were a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Chris Ezike, Prominent political leader in the State,Chief Mike Nwakalor, the traditional ruler of Ochuche in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking on his impression shortly after the award, Chief Ochiogu who was accompanied to Hilton Hotel Awka, the venue of the award by traders of the market, said he was surprised by his nomination as one of the awardees.
Ochiogu said sometime ago he received a call from the Local Government demanding to know more about his activities which they promptly replied.
Eventually, said Ochiogu, he got a letter of his nomination, saying that the award was a testimony to his commitment to good leadership in the market.
He said he has provided basic facilities for the traders in the market such as sinking of boreholes and reticulating it to different parts of the market,provided solar powered light which lightens the market throughout the night, provisions of hundreds of fire extinguishers to prevent fire in the market, provided toilets in the market among other facilities.
Ochiogu commended the organisers, saying that the award would give him more impetus to work for the Market, the succes of Governor Soludo’s and administrstion and humanity at large.
Earlier in his address the chairman of Anambra State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Vin. Ezeaka, said over 400 ghost workers, dead and retired staff were found still collecting salary but they have removed them from the commission’s register
He said some of the ghost workers had travelled abroad, while some are working in Lagos, Abuja or elsewhere, refused to resign and still went ahead to continue to collect salary.
He however, said about 100 people complained that they are not ghost workers but stated that they were still investigating their claims.
The chairman of the Award Committee and a member of the Commission, Hon. (Mrs) Anthonia Okoye, said the essence of the award was to appreciate those who helped the Local Government Commission by providing Community service to the people.
Okoye, a former member of the state House of Assembly appealed to Anambra people to at every point in time do what is right by keeping their environment clean, desilting their drainage system among other things that will make their environment conducive for people to live.