Soludo cracks down on late civil servants, orders immediate sanctions after surprise inspection

Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, 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 governor, who undertook a hands-on inspection across various ministries and departments, expressed concern over widespread lateness and absenteeism observed during the exercise.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the visit, Soludo issued a firm directive that any worker not present at work by 10 a.m. should face immediate suspension without pay.

He said, “I walked in, office by office, and there are quite a significant number of workers who are not yet at work as of 10 am. This is unacceptable.

“The ‘bad eggs’ will be shipped out because Anambra is an A-state and cannot afford an inefficient civil service.

Firm measures will be taken to check these attitudes in the civil service.”

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While describing the overall situation as a blend of “the good, the bad and the ugly,” the governor acknowledged the commitment of punctual and diligent workers but decried the conduct of those undermining the system through poor work habits.

He made it clear that the administration would no longer condone indiscipline or lack of dedication within the state workforce, reaffirming his resolve to build a more responsive and performance-driven civil service.

“The government had invested significantly in improving infrastructure and working conditions at the secretariat. Workers should reciprocate with dedication and productivity,” he added.

During the inspection tour, Soludo engaged directly with staff members, assessing not only attendance but also the broader work culture within the system.

Offering a frank appraisal, the governor praised the “good people” in the civil service—those who have remained consistent in professionalism and punctuality—stressing that their contributions are central to achieving the administration’s development agenda.

However, he warned that persistent lateness and absenteeism would attract strict consequences.

“Those who fail to meet time-keeping standards will be pinned off.

“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.

“To achieve this, the administration is prioritising three key pillars of reform: deployment of technology – transitioning towards digital workflows to enhance speed and transparency.

“Effective supervision and evaluation – implementing rigorous performance tracking to ensure accountability at all levels and physical infrastructure improvements – sustaining the modernisation of the secretariat to provide a conducive work environment.”

The governor said the surprise visit was intended as a clear signal of his administration’s determination to overhaul the state bureaucracy.

He emphasised that by combining technological innovation with strict discipline, the government aims to reposition the civil service as a high-performing engine for delivering democratic dividends to the people of Anambra.

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