Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State on Monday ordered that 16 top government functionaries in the state should forfeit their September and October salaries and overheads for coming late to a state event.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the functionaries came late to a debate competition organised by the government as part of activities to mark the nation’s 55th anniversary and 19th year of the state’s creation.

The functionaries included commissioners, special advisers, assistants, members of boards, local government areas caretaker committee chairmen, among others.

Others included the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Commissioner for Environment, and Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation among others.

Umahi, who expressed dismay over the lateness of the officials, noted that the government intended to restore sanity to governance in the state.

He commended the organisers and participants at the debate with the theme, ‘Anti-Corruption and Internally Generated Revenue Drive: the only Panacea for Economic Development in Ebonyi’.

“It is pertinent to state that not all public office holders are corrupt; the malaise is a matter of the individual’s conscience.

“The government will recover all funds paid by the people to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company for pre-paid metres as the company always offers excuses for non-provision of the facilities,” he said.

Senior Special Adviser on Religious Affairs and Welfare to the Governor, Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, said the masses suffered most from the effects of corruption.