By MaryAnn Chukwuma
In a decisive move to institutionalize environmental discipline within the civil service, Anambra State Head of Service, Ngozi Iwouno, Esq., mni, has launched a comprehensive sanitation exercise across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), anchored on a strict zero-tolerance policy for waste.
The initiative aligns with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of a clean, green, and healthy Anambra, reinforcing the administration’s broader environmental sustainability agenda.
The exercise commenced at the Jerome Udorji Secretariat Complex in Awka, where the Head of Service, accompanied by members of the College of Permanent Secretaries, conducted an extensive inspection tour of offices and surrounding premises. Their hands-on participation underscored the seriousness of the initiative and set the tone for service-wide compliance.
The clean-up drive was prompted by the Governor’s recent impromptu visit to the Secretariat, during which unsightly debris and dilapidated furniture were observed in some offices. Describing the situation as unacceptable, the Head of Service moved swiftly to address the lapses, declaring every Wednesday as a dedicated sanitation day, an intervention she intends to institutionalize as a monthly routine.
She emphasized that maintaining a clean and orderly work environment is critical to repositioning the Anambra State Civil Service as a model of excellence nationwide.
To ensure strict adherence, Iwouno extended inspection visits to MDAs outside the Secretariat complex. At the Ministry of Women Affairs, where participation fell short of expectations, sanctions were imposed on absent staff, signaling the administration’s firm stance on accountability.
Across other MDAs, however, compliance was commendable, resulting in a visibly transformed Secretariat environment. Broken furniture was promptly evacuated, while salvageable items were carefully sorted for refurbishment.
The impact of the exercise extended beyond government offices. Nearby institutions, including the Nigeria Police Station, B Division, Awka, were directed to remove abandoned and impounded vehicles obstructing the Secretariat Road, reinforcing a shared responsibility for environmental hygiene within the precinct.
Speaking on behalf of the College of Permanent Secretaries, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engr. Tochukwu Obodogha, described the initiative as timely and transformative. He commended the Head of Service for her proactive leadership in restoring the aesthetic and functional integrity of the Secretariat, in line with the state’s Clean, Green, and Healthy Anambra vision.
The clean-up campaign marks a renewed commitment to discipline, accountability, and environmental stewardship within Anambra’s public service setting a new benchmark for institutional culture and civic responsibility.
MaryAnn is of the Ministry of Information
