The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the suspension of civil servants who fail to report to duty by 10 a.m., following a surprise inspection of the state secretariat in Awka on Thursday.
During his unannounced tour of various ministries and departments, Soludo conducted an on-the-spot assessment of workers’ punctuality and overall work ethic. Speaking to journalists afterward, he warned that any staff not found at their duty post by the set time would face suspension without pay.
“I walked in, office by office, and there are quite a significant number of workers who are not yet at work as of 10 a.m. This is unacceptable. The ‘bad eggs’ will be shipped out because Anambra is an A-state and cannot afford an inefficient civil service,” the governor stated.
Soludo described his overall findings as a mix of “the good, the bad and the ugly,” commending the diligent workers while expressing dissatisfaction with absenteeism and poor commitment among some staff. He emphasized that the state government would no longer tolerate indiscipline, lack of accountability, or entitlement within the civil service.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to building a disciplined, agile, and results-oriented workforce, noting that reforms aimed at efficiency would be strictly enforced. “The government has invested significantly in improving infrastructure and working conditions at the secretariat. Workers should reciprocate with dedication and productivity,” he added.
During the inspection, Soludo engaged directly with personnel to assess the prevailing work culture. He paid tribute to the “good people” in the system civil servants who consistently uphold professional integrity and adhere to official work hours describing their dedication as the bedrock of his administration’s developmental goals.
Addressing chronic absenteeism and late-coming, the governor stressed that those failing to meet time-keeping standards would be held accountable. “The era of lacklustre performance and entitlement in the civil service has come to an end. We are committed to evolving a civil service that is agile, effective, and efficient,” he said.
The directive reflects Soludo’s determination to instill discipline, productivity, and accountability within the Anambra State civil service, aligning staff performance with the state’s developmental aspirations.
