The chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Hon. Ajah Chinonso Consider, has labelled reports claiming that the council “has trivialised the welfare of members of the neighbourhood watch and even ‘refused to pay the personnel their 21 months’ stipends'” as “wicked and cheap blackmail.”
In a statement released by the council’s Public Relations Officer, Okorie Uneke Etim, he asserted that the circulating reports on social media are false, emphasising that “Ohaozara LGA does not owe any of our dedicated neighbourhood watch personnel — be it salaries, stipends, allowances, entitlements or otherwise.”
Okorie explained that “recently, the council conducted a verification exercise and identified several faceless individuals whose names had been improperly included in the neighbourhood watch register, and these names were subsequently removed.”
“Importantly, we have revitalised the neighbourhood watch to ensure it is fit for purpose.”
“With the implementation of a ‘table payment’ method following the verification exercise, numerous ghost neighbourhood security guards have been prevented from receiving payments for work they did not perform.”
“Consequently, it seems that we are witnessing corruption fighting back. We are not surprised that malicious publications of this nature are being circulated against the Council Chairman, Hon. Ajah Chinonso Consider.”
“There is no doubt that the welfare of workers, and indeed the good people of Ohaozara, is the highest priority for our exceptional Council Chairman.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, we affirm that no amount of fabricated social media posts, baseless claims, or malicious blackmail will compel the council to start paying ghost neighbourhood watch personnel.”
