The chairman of Rivers State Local Government Service Commission (RSLGSC), Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro, Alias Ikwerre One, has been described as an unfit Administrator mistakenly appointed by the Governor Rt. (Hon) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to pilot the affairs of the Commission.
Mr. Chidi Ikechi Amadi, one of the senior staff of the commission stated this while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt recently. He described the chairman as completely lacking in administrative acumen and ability to pilot the commission, as he has no regard for his commissioners who were appointed to work with him as a team; but 1ooks down on them as ‘supervisors’, while the workers of the commission are like ‘glorified domestic servants’ to him, hence there is a big disconnect between him and the rest of the staff of the commission.
Speaking further, Amadi said the ugly happenings in the commission since the unfortunate appointment of Chief Wokekoro, has made staff of the commission to be very angry with the system, for instance, the chairman has not called for, nor presided over a meeting for over five months since he was appointed by the Governor to look into some sensitive issues in the commission, like promotions, transfer of staff, staff welfare, salary increments, and retirement issues not to mention addressing them, rather he runs the commission like a ‘sole administrator from the comfort of his home.
“He has no respect for his commissioners; rather he prefers secret meetings at his residence with the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA’s), Head of Personnel Management (HPM), and Treasurers, than having Statutory Board Meetings with his commissioners at the office”.
The senior staff at the commission also revealed that the chairman takes delights in appointing some of the workers and civil servants who are close to him as ‘Special Advisers’ than dealing with his commissioners who are better educated and more experienced in Local Government Administration, as some of them have once served as Local Government chairmen before their appointment.
“His modus operandi is to sit at home and use his phones to call on the Director of Finance & Administration (DFA) and the Commission’s Secretary for any financial approval he wants, without the knowledge and approval of the commission”.
The Source further hinted that Chief Wokekoro, purchases cars for himself and any staff he wants without due process and regard to laid down procedure of such purchase and approval from the commission.
Consequently, the source says because of lack of meetings in the commission for over five months, all the previous promotion exercise the commission had concluded, could not be released, and some committees which applied for some fund to work, could not get approval and fund released, hence the commission is like a ‘grave yard’, where nothing is working. Hence a once vibrant known commission in the state is now deserted by people and it seems to be a ‘ghost of its former self.
Most staff of the commission who spoke to our correspondent preferred their names not to be on print for fear of being sacked or reprimanded, said they honestly preferred the tenures of the past three chairmen of the commission to the present one, namely, Chief Ephraim Etete-Owoh, Chief Azubuike Nmeruikeni and Engr. Kingston Jaja to the present administration headed by Chief Wokekoro, where nothing seems to move in the commission as staff welfare and training seems to be at zero level and uncertainty manifesting on staff faces on daily basis.
The Chairman was quoted to have said, “this is his own time to enjoy, for he has been out of government for over three years and was almost broke, so nobody should disturb him, more so, this is an opportunity since his kinsman, an Ikwerre man (the Governor) is in-charge of the state affairs source added.
The Source also revealed that the commissioners are all in bad mood with bottled anger about the ug1y situation in the commission, and are only patiently waiting for an opportunity to meet with the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to explain the whole situation to him as it affects their functions, where the chairman runs the commission as a sole administrator which is against the statutory local government law that established the commission.
The probable reason commissioners have not exploded ever since was because of the tense political situation in the state, which they felt that the chairman himself suppose to understood and turn a new leaf before this time, but unfortunately could not change his style because of his selfish interest hence the current action.
The Newswriter effort to have the commission’s chairman reaction met the brick walls as at the time of going to press.###
