The fear became apparent when many of the workers did not get the codes that would enable them to participate in the ongoing online and physical verification exercise organised by the state government.
Some staff members of the Enugu State local government system have expressed worry over an alleged plan by Governor Peter Mbah to lay them off.
The fear became apparent when many of the workers did not get the codes that would enable them to participate in the ongoing online and physical verification exercise organised by the state government.
SaharaReporters learnt that there is a likelihood that they could be dismissed prematurely.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia in conjunction with the Local Government Staff Verification Committee had indicated that the staff must get their verification code from their respective local government payroll officers, noting that they should visit the government website to complete the online verification form with their details.
However, many of them could not get their code before the closing date of the portal which was opened between January 11, 2024 and January 18, 2024.
Investigation showed that some people who got the code late could not access the portal as well as those who did not see their names at all. Meanwhile, the verification exercise commenced in earnest as the committee has visited some local government areas already for the verification.
Some of those who could not get codes for online verification have expressed uncertainty over their fate.
"This is the way some staff members of the state civil servants were sacked during Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani’s day. We are afraid that they might lay us off as ghost workers if eventually we were not allowed to participate in the exercise," a staff member who did not get the code in time laments.
"This thing is like a joke. My prayer is that they should not capitalise on this and sack those of us who could not access the portal before January 18. I heard that the state government is serious about the exercise and this could be the way they want to lay some people off," another affected worker said.
A source in the local government service commission disclosed that the affected staff members had been directed to submit their names to their payroll officers.
"This may not be the end of the road for them. Those affected have been asked to fill out forms with their payroll officers. Their case could be visited. They should not fear," she said.
Regarding the development, the information commissioner, Aka Eze Aka, also said that there was still hope for the affected staff members.
"The essence of the exercise is to sanitise the local government system. Those who could not see their names at all and those who saw their names when the portal closed still stand the chance of being considered," Aka said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, said the exercise was still going on and that there was hope for the staff embers affected.