Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has directed the suspension of civil servants absent from their duty posts by 10 a.m. following an unannounced visit to the state secretariat in Awka on Thursday.
The directive came after the governor conducted a spot-check on punctuality across various ministries and departments. Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Soludo said any worker not present at work by 10 a.m. should face suspension without pay.
“I moved from office to office and found a considerable number of workers yet to resume duties as of 10 a.m. This is unacceptable,” he said.
He added that underperforming staff would be removed, stressing that Anambra could not afford an inefficient civil service.
Describing his findings as “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” the governor commended diligent employees while criticising absenteeism and poor work culture among others. He warned that the government would no longer tolerate indiscipline or lack of commitment.
Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a disciplined, efficient, and results-driven workforce, noting that reforms would be strictly implemented.
He also pointed out that the government had made significant investments in infrastructure and working conditions at the secretariat, urging workers to reciprocate with improved dedication and productivity.
During the visit, the governor interacted directly with staff to assess workplace culture. While praising committed civil servants for their professionalism and punctuality, he stressed that such dedication remains central to achieving his administration’s development objectives.
Addressing persistent issues of lateness and absenteeism, Soludo warned that defaulters would face sanctions, declaring an end to complacency and entitlement in the civil service.
He outlined key reform priorities, including the adoption of digital workflows to improve efficiency and transparency, strengthened supervision and performance evaluation systems, and continued upgrades to physical infrastructure.
According to him, the inspection signals a renewed push to overhaul the state’s bureaucracy, combining technology and strict discipline to ensure effective service delivery to the people of Anambra.
