NAN-H-42
Workers
By David Adeoye
Ibadan, April 18, 2017 (NAN) Civil servants in Ibadan on Tuesday resumed for duty after the Easter holidays declared by the Federal Government.
Government had declared April 14 and 17 as work- free days to enable workers celebrate the Easter.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the resumption of workers at the Federal Secretariat at Ikolaba area in Ibadan, reports that most workers resumed at their duty posts as early as 8. 00 am.
At the National Directorate of Employment office, workers were sighted at their respective desks treating files while others were exchanging pleasantries.
The situation was the same at the Ministry of Education as many workers were busy at their various duty posts.
Mrs G .C Fabunmi, a staff of the ministry, said she and her colleagues resumed work early in order to continue performing their duties as committed civil servants..
Fabunmi said the holiday gave her the opportunity to rest and have enough time to attend to domestic issues as a mother and wife.
Another civil servant, who simply identified himself as Emmanuel, said he travelled to his home town in the eastern part of the country for the celebration and returned to Ibadan with vigour to continue work.
He, however, appealed to government to sustain the regular salary payment of workers and other benefits, saying this would go a long way in enhancing workers’ productivity.
At the State Secretariat in Agodi, civil servants in the employment of the Oyo State Government were also sighted at their duty posts as early as 9.a.m.
While many were attending to office chores, some were also seen exchanging banters over the Easter celebration.
NAN, however, reports that only a few council workers were at Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat at Agodi as at 8.30 a.m.
Most of the offices were empty while the few workers that came early were seen exchanging greetings and discussing about their experiences during the festivity.
One of the workers, who pleaded not to be named, said that the lateness was due to non payment of salaries as many often trek long distance before getting to the office.
“It is normal to meet few workers at their duty post because the non payment of salaries force some of us to trek long distances before reaching the office.
“Moreover, today is the first working day after Easter and some workers are just returning this morning from their various communities,’’ he said.
He implored the state government to prioritise payment of salaries so that workers would be encouraged to perform optimally.(NAN)
DAK/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)