Hundreds of workers at the Kwara State secretariat were locked out on Monday following an unscheduled visit by the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Many offices were locked as at 7.55 a.m. when the governor arrived and at about 10 a.m. when he left.
Angered by the discovery, the governor warned that the state civil servants that late coming to work was unhelpful for government business in the 21st century.
“The Governor is not happy that he got to the Government Secretariat at about 7:55 a.m. Monday and for over one hour only a few workers were at work. Most offices were still locked as at 9 a.m. He feels very unhappy about such an attitude and calls for change,” Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesman for the Governor, said in a statement following the unscheduled visit.
“Late coming and poor attitude to work certainly will not be tolerated. The civil service should be business-like and efficient in service delivery. As we try to support the civil service to deliver on its mandate, we expect a drastic shift from old practices that have taken our state nowhere,” he added.
Meanwhile, AbdulRazaq commended the staff of the Children’s Hospital at Centre Igboro for their dedication to work.
“The governor wishes to specially commend the staff of the Children’s Hospital for their exemplary service beyond the call of duty. He appreciates them and urges them to continue that way,” the statement added.
The commendation followed AbdulRazaq’s impromptu visit to the hospital on Sunday to check the state of their facilities.
The governor, while touring various offices in the old secretariat, asked the few workers present about their routines and what they needed to render better services to the public.
AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, directed the Kwara State Scholarship Board to present a memo detailing the state of student bursary and scholarship.
He gave the directive during the tour of the secretariat, adding that the board should direct all students to open accounts.
He also asked the board to henceforth adopt e-payment for the disbursement of bursary.
