Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday paid an unscheduled visit to the Jerome Udorji Secretariat in Awka, locking out late-arriving workers.
The governor, who arrived at about 10am, ordered that the gates be shut to prevent latecomers from gaining access to the complex, which houses several state ministries.
During the visit, Soludo inspected multiple ministries and departments, taking stock of staff present and assessing punctuality, conduct and overall commitment to duty.
He said the exercise was part of efforts to evaluate the work culture within the state civil service and drive necessary reforms.
In a statement after the inspection, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the level of attendance.
“I just made an unscheduled visit to the State Civil Service secretariat this morning. I’m not pleased to see that some workers hadn’t arrived for work at 10am.
“But I must commend the dedicated civil servants I met in their respective offices and duty posts. Your diligence is the backbone of our service. Keep pushing,” he said.
Soludo warned workers who fail to meet expectations to step aside for more committed personnel.
“To those who didn’t show up: we are watching. We are intentional about building an agile, effective, and productive civil service. If you are not committed, please make way for those who are,” he added.
Addressing workers after the inspection, the governor stressed that his administration would not tolerate inefficiency.
He warned that civil servants unwilling to align with the government’s reform agenda would face consequences, including possible exit from service.
“Those who do not align with the new vision for the civil service will be exited. Government is determined to instil discipline and improve service delivery,” he stated.
David-Chyddy Eleke
About the Author
