Yobe cracks down on absenteeism, lateness in civil service

Yobe State Government officials are cracking down on public servants who are frequently absent, late, or leave work early. The government issued a strong warning that disciplinary action will be taken against offenders, adhering strictly to the Yobe State Public Service Rules.

This warning comes after an unscheduled inspection of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) by a team from the Office of the Head of Service. The inspection aimed to assess workers' adherence to official working hours and revealed significant issues with absenteeism and punctuality.

“

The Office of the Head of Service will continue to monitor attendance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that all public servants adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and dedication. Officers are expected to report to work on time and remain at their duty posts throughout official working hours.

Alhaji Hamidu Isa Babi, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Head of Service, stated that monitoring will be intensified to ensure public servants maintain high standards of professionalism, discipline, and dedication. He stressed that employees are expected to be at their duty posts throughout official working hours.

“

I am pleased to see these Permanent Secretaries at their duty posts carrying out their responsibilities. Their presence demonstrates commitment to service and sets the right example for other public servants. Leadership is about leading by example, and I encourage all heads of MDAs to continue promoting discipline, accountability and dedication in the civil service.

During the inspection, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Shehu, commended two Permanent Secretaries for being present and carrying out their responsibilities. He highlighted their presence as an example of leadership and encouraged other heads of MDAs to promote discipline and accountability.

However, some civil servants attributed their lateness and absenteeism to transportation difficulties. One anonymous worker appealed to the state government to introduce soft loan schemes to help employees acquire motorcycles or vehicles, suggesting this would significantly improve punctuality and attendance.

“

Many workers struggle with transportation, especially those who live far from their places of work. If the government can introduce softer loan schemes, it will enable workers to acquire motorcycles or vehicles. That will go a long way in improving punctuality and attendance.