Anambra Perm Sec Beats, Sends HoD Into Coma
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Tragedy was averted in the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare recently after the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu reportedly sent one of her senior officers into a coma following an unresolved disagreement between them.
In the process, the Anambra State Government, on Sunday, said necessary action are being taken to address the unfortunate incident involving Mrs Achugbu who allegedly almost choke life out of one female Head of Department in the Ministry, whose identity had been kept anonymous for obvious reasons.
Reliable sources in the Ministry hinted that Achugbu, who is among the new permanent secretaries recently appointed by the Governor Chukwuma Soludo, took matters into her hands by going physical against the hapless female colleague.
Available reports indicated that the fisticuff between the two combatants occurred in the office on Thursday, 15th August 2024 when an argument ensued over a yet-to-be-disclosed matter leading to the Permanent Secretary manhandling and sending her opponent into a coma with heavy blows and grips.
Though sources could not confirm the cause of the unfortunate incident, hints are that it might not be unconnected with issues of ‘ego’ and ‘personality clashes’ that have become commonplace in the Ministry.
Insiders however said the timely intervention of some workers helped to separate both fighters and avert what could have turned out a black and tragic Friday in the Ministry.
According to the insiders, with things finally brought under control, it was discovered that the ‘heavy-punching’ and ‘wild-scratching’ Permanent Secretary had inflicted severe injuries on the HOD who had to be rushed immediately to the Emergency Ward of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku-Awka, for medical attention and resuscitation.
One insider, who confirmed the incident under anonymity, told a select group of reporters that; “Yes, the incident happened. Everything in that story happened. I was there that day and everything happened before my face. The two of them fought over a yet-to-be-disclosed matter and the PS tried to strangle the HOD, as she held her neck for several minutes.
“It was a very chaotic moment. It took the intervention of other persons around before normalcy returned after the HOD was rushed to the hospital because she fell into a coma.”
Also confirming the story, another employee lamented that the matter is not being handled appropriately because of the personalities involved and that does not look right given existing civil service rules and regulations on workplace ethics.
The source fumed that with some top Ministry’s officials trying to sweep the matter under the carpet, the tendency is that such hostilities may continue unabated because bad precedence are being set by those charged with enforcing the rules.
Specifically, the source drew attention to Section 7 of the Public Service Rules (2021) that addresses sanctions for erring workers and misconduct, guidelines for worker conduct, penalties for failure to discharge functions by established practice, adding that; “These penalties aim to ensure that public servants maintain a high standard of conduct and performance in their duties.”
Contacted for her reaction on the allegations at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare located within the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, the Permanent Secretary said she was not permitted to speak on such matters as being someone under authority.
Pressed further, she said anyone interested in the alleged story may wish to “go and ask the Head of Service” who is in charge of the State Civil Service.
On her part when contacted on steps being taken by the government to address the issue and other workplace abuses in most public establishments, the Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, acknowledged being aware of the alleged fight at the Ministry only through social media.
Further explaining that her Office has not been officially briefed on what transpired, Igwegbe said; “I saw the report on social media on Friday, August 23, 2024. I have not received a formal report against the Permanent Secretary in question as provided by Section 7, Chapter 10 of the Public Service Rules (2021).
“That notwithstanding, I have started asking questions to ascertain what happened while I await a formal report, which should be the beginning of a process.”
Igwegbe assured that after ascertaining the veracity of the incident, appropriate action(s) would be taken at the conclusion of findings and investigation on the case.
Meanwhile, Forefront News reliably gathered that physical assaults and abuses of different dimensions have become routine among top staff members in the Ministry with their subordinates afraid to report these excesses for fear of victimisation.
