By Shulamite Owhoekevbo
In a surprise move, the Delta State Head of Service Dr. Mininim Oseji and members of her monitoring team, Wednesday, stormed the Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat, hub of the state government’s civil service machinery, with a view to arresting the perennial trend of late coming and absenteeism by public servants.
While speaking to newsmen at the Secretariat Complex, Dr. Oseji the State Government was enforcing punctuality and regular attendance at work among public servants. This move comes after receiving numerous complaints about lateness to work and absenteeism among a good number of public servants, a situation which she said negatively affects productivity.
The HoS lamented that despite having a rotational roster system that allows workers from salary grade level 1 to 14 to take two days off in one week and three days off in the following week, many of them still came late to work, or absented themselves entirely.
Oseji stated that a form had been created for the latecomers to fill out, providing reasons for their late-coming. Thereafter, the monitoring team from the Office of the Head of Service would review the reasons and implement solutions where possible.
She also stated that the previous biometric clock-in and clock-out system was ineffective due to lack of backend reports and equipment malfunction.
Going forward, she urged all workers to be punctual and productive, emphasizing that it is the minimum expectation in return for the government’s magnanimity.
“Hopefully, by identifying challenges and sensitizing public servants, punctuality, attendance and productivity would improve,” she said.