Offices at the Secretariat were empty, and a few cars
were seen at the usually full parks
Many civil servants failed to resume work at the Federal
Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday after a two-day break for Eid-el-Kabir
celebrations.
Offices at the Secretariat were empty, and a few cars
were seen at the usually full parks, according to NAN.
Nigerian government had declared July 20 and July 21 as
public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.
Some civil servants who spoke with NAN blamed the low
turnout of workers after the holidays on non-payment of salaries before the
break.
A civil servant, Kenneth Ubagha, said he did not expect
to see many people in the office due to his past experiences after the
holidays, especially when the government did not pay salaries before such
holidays.
“Well, it has always been like this whenever we have
holidays in the middle of the month when salaries are not paid.
“Besides, it has become a tradition among Nigerian
workers to use the rest of the days after holidays to continue to rest until
the weekend before resuming fully, so this one cannot be an exception,” Mr
Ubagha explained.
Another civil servant, Juliet John, said a few civil
servants were in their offices when she resumed.
Ms John, who attributed the low turnout to non-payment of
salaries, appealed to the government to always make arrangements to pay civil
servants’ salaries during religious holidays.
“This will boost their morale within such period to
celebrate happily with their loved ones. You will agree with me that a lot of
them who travelled home within the period found it difficult to return as they
could not have sufficient transport fare to come back.
“I don’t think it will be a bad idea if government at all
levels, at such a time like this, be it Sallah, Easter or Christmas, can pay
salaries and even offer a special package to workers to put smiles on their
faces, especially at difficult times like this,” she said.
Similarly, Lamidi Ashimu said he returned from a trip to
Ibadan, where he spent the Salah holidays with his family, to resume work.
Mr Ashimu, however, advised other workers that they
should not use the non-payment of salaries and the holidays as excuses to be
absent from work.
0 Comments