High, low turnouts as civil servants resume work after sallah

Five States witnessed a high turnout of workers while the reverse was the case in four others  following resumption of work on Thursday after the two days’ work-free holiday declared by the Federal Government in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Our correspondents monitored resumption of work in 10 states, namely: Lagos, Niger, Yobe, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

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While workers resumed in large numbers in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa and  Plateau,  states the case was different in Niger, Yobe, Kwara and Bauchi and Kogi states.

Low turnout

There was a low turnout of civil servants in Niger state as work resumed after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Our correspondent who visited the Niger state Secretariat observed that a lot of the workers did not come to work as the Secretariat was almost deserted.

Only a handful of workers were seeing in and around the Secretariat and in most of the government agencies around the state. Daily Trust gathered that a lot of workers who traveled home for the celebration are yet to return.

Some of the civil servants who spoke to our correspondent said majority of those who traveled may not come back till weekend, implying they can resume work next Monday.

A worker who wouldn’t want his name mentioned said: “There is usually a lot of events lined up by most people this period and they stay behind to attend them before returning. This is why many of them are yet to resume work.”

Similarly, only a few staffs were seen at work when our correspondent visited the state Yobe State secretariat yesterday.

A staff of one of the ministries interviewed noted that this is much expected because the Sallah break was too short especially to workers coming from outside the state.

Our correspondent caught up with the Permanent Secretary, Yobe State Ministry of Transport and Energy, Dr. Mustapha Abba Geidam showed up in his office to treat some files.

The Bauchi State Secretariat located along the Yakubun Bauchi road also witnessed few workers who resumed from the Sallah holiday on Thursday.

The secretariat was almost empty with few senior and casual workers hanging around, while some offices were under locked and key.

A security guard working at the secretariat told Daily Trust that a good number of workers had not resumed because “Many of senior and middle cadre civil servants usually celebrate the Sallah in their local governments with few others staying back in Bauchi town.

“So the tradition is that when public holiday falls within the week, it is difficult for the workers to resume Thursday or Friday while full resumption shifts to Monday the next week,” said the guard.

In Kwara State, many civil servants were yet to resume for work when our correspondent visited the State secretariat in Ilorin as many of them that traveled out of the state were yet to return.

When Daily Trust visited the state Secretariat (Phase 1) in the afternoon, activities were low, and only a few workers were on the ground.

Only about six vehicles were seen in the vast complex that houses about four ministries.

Some officials said many workers were still enjoying the holiday period while some were yet to return from their travels.

A similar scenario was observed at the new secretariat along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin.

Also, civil servants in Kogi state resumed work Thursday like their counterparts in other parts of the country even as there was low turnout of workers.

Our correspondent who visited offices are the densely populated Secretariat observed that the workers were struggling to give excuses on why some of their coworkers did not report to duty.

High turnout

In Bayelsa State, our correspondent reports that there was an impressive turnout of workers after the two days public holiday.

When Daily Trust visited the State Civil Service Secretariat in Ovom, Yenagoa, the state capital, workers were in their respective offices discharging their duties.

The entrance of the secretariat was busy as workers were seen carrying out their work while in some ministries, Commissioners and senior staff were holding meetings in the conference rooms.

A staff in the state ministry of works, who declined being named, told Daily Trust that having enjoyed the two day holiday with his family, it was time to carry on with his duties in the office.

However, Daily Trust observed that some of the staff who traveled for the holidays were yet to return and resume work.

Similarly, in Plateau State, our correspondent reports that many workers at the State Secretariat resumed duty on Wednesday.

A visit to State Assembly also showed that many civil servants have resumed work with every department and offices functioning.

Plangnan Datok, a civil servant at the State Assembly, said they have resumed work fully, saying, “The holiday has ended and everyone has resumed duty. As you can see I am now in the office as my colleagues have resumed too.”

Full official activities resumed at Rivers State Secretariat located at the Forces Avenue of Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Our reporter who visited the Secretariat observed the usual bustle of the secretariat as many of the workers were seen moving into their various offices.

Some of the staff at the Secretariat who spoke with our reporter expressed joy that they are back to their duty post after the two days’ holidays.

In Lagos, many civil servants resumed work after the two-day Sallah break.

The Alausa Secretariat, which houses Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State had bounced back as workers felt rejuvenated after the two day break.

A civil servant with the Public Service Office who does not want his name mentioned said many workers had resumed while those who had not resumed would do so today unfailingly with the exception of those who are on leave.

Federal civil servants on Thursday resumed work in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the two-day public holiday declared by the federal government to enable Muslims observe the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

Our correspondent who visited the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHOCSF) and the Federal Secretariat complex Abuja, where the various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are located, observed workers at their various offices.

It was also observed that though the Federal Government is yet to lift the restrictions on Level 12 officers and below from resuming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many ‘junior’ workers were seen at their duty posts.

In Benue State, however, civil servants did not resume work due to the work free declared by the government for them to go to their respective farms.

The state government had announced Thursday and Friday as work-free days for civil servants after it flagged off the cropping season in June, this year.

By Abbas Jimoh (Abuja), Romoke W. Ahmad (Minna), Ibrahim Baba Saleh, (Damaturu), Hassan Ibrahim(Bauchi), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Bassey Willie (Yenagoa), Ado Abubakar Musa,(Jos)  Christiana T. Alabi (Lagos), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt), Adama John(Lokoja), Hope Abah Emmanuel (Makurdi)