Work resumes in Abuja after sallah break
NAN-H-62
Resumption
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) Civil Servants in Abuja resumed work on Wednesday after a two-day public holiday declared by the Federal Government to mark the Eid el-Kabir celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers turnout at the Federal Secretariat located in the Central Area of Abuja was impressive.
Some of the civil servants who spoke with NAN, said that since they could not travel for the celebrations due financial challenges, they had no reason not to be at work.
Mrs Esther Ejike, a senior civil servant, said that there was no need staying at home after the holiday.
She, however, said that a few of her Muslim colleagues who took casual leave to travel to celebrate with their loved ones, had yet to resume.
She described as encouraging the turnout of workers after the holiday, stressing that full activities would resume on Monday in most government offices.
One of the car park ticket sellers at the Federal Secretariat Car Park, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, reiterated that the level of resumption was encouraging considering the number of vehicles already parked.
He said the car park was relatively filled, but added that some of the workers had yet to resume after the holiday.
NAN, however, observed that there was low turnout of workers at the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Secretariat.
Some of the staff were seen discussing in hush tones about the current economic challenges in the country.
According to Mr Danladi Kabiru, most of the secretariat staff stayed back because they had travel out of the city.
Such staff,he said, might want to spend the remaining days of the week with their loved ones in their home towns.
Mrs Veronica Adeosun, also a staff of AMAC, said that the low turnout of staff might be due to the current economic challenges in the country and the increased transportation cost.
According to her, some staff might find it difficult raising money to come to work after spending so much for the sallah celebrations.
Some of the Civil Servants urged the Federal Government to consider an upward review of their salaries, considering the country’s present economic situation.
They said that salary increase had become necessary because their present take home pay, could no longer take them home.
Mr Andrew Obi while decrying the situation, expressed his dismay that the Federal Government had yet to introduce palliatives raising the prices of petroleum products in May.
Similarly, Mrs Edna Uzor, also a civil servant, noted that while the salaries of civil servants had remained static, the prices of foodstuffs especially, had continued to increase by the day.
“There is need for government to consider increasing the salaries of civil servants to enable them to meet their needs.
“It should also put in place policies that will ameliorate the suffering of the common man,’’ Uzor said. (NAN)
BOL/IMC/EEM/NKO
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(Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Nkechi Okoronkwo)