Nigeria Content Online

The head of the
civil service of the federation, Oladapo Afolabi, has directed all
federal permanent secretaries to set up a tracking system to monitor
and document resumption and closing time of every civil servant.

Mr. Afolabi gave
the directive in a circular issued on Thursday last week. He instructed
the permanent secretaries in charge of various ministries and
government agencies and departments to install clocking devices that
will efficiently record the movement of civil servants.

He, however, said
that ahead of the installation of a clocking device, all permanent
secretaries should, henceforth, strictly enforce the resumption and
closing time of 8.am and 4.00 pm respectively.

The directive
follows complaints about the civil servants’ attitude to work by
President Goodluck Jonathan when he swore-in three newly appointed
permanent secretaries. President Jonathan expressed displeasure at the
low level of commitment to duties by some federal civil servants and
called for an immediate change in attitude.

Lingering tradition

Shortly before the
former head of the civil service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye,
retired last year, he threatened severe disciplinary actions on truant
civil servants after discovering that only one in every three civil
servants report to work before 8a.m.

His threats led to
a fiasco in the federal secretariat after so many civil servants,
including ranking officers, were severally locked out of the offices
for late coming.

“The two days I
have directed that offices should be locked against latecomers was to
see the extent of the problem and I am quite disappointed that not less
than two-third of my staff come late to work,” Mr. Oronsaye had
lamented.

Despite Mr.
Oronsaye’s strict measures, officers of the federal civil service
continued with their tradition of late coming and truancy in their
duties. The late comers also included some senior officers like
directors and deputy directors.

Although it is
hoped with the introduction of technological devices in the monitoring
of arrival and closing times will greatly improve the productivity of
the officers, some civil servants NEXT spoke with feel, “it will end up
like the rest.”

Some others who spoke to NEXT on conditions of anonymity
pessimistically dismissed the project saying, “it won’t last.” Others
complained the transport system does not aide punctuality.