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Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the suspension of civil servants who were absent from their duty posts at 10am, following a surprise visit to the state secretariat in Awka on Thursday.
The governor, who carried out spot inspections in various ministries and departments, expressed concern over the widespread delays and absenteeism seen during the exercise.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the visit, Soludo issued strict orders that any worker who does not show up for work by 10am must be immediately suspended without pay.
He said, “I go in, office after office, and there are quite a lot of workers who haven’t come to work until 10 a.m. This is unacceptable.
“The ‘bad eggs’ will be thrown out because Anambra is state A and cannot afford inefficient civil servants.
Strict action will be taken to control this attitude of civil servants.”
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While describing the overall situation as a mix of “the good, the bad and the ugly,” the governor acknowledged the commitment of punctual and diligent workers, but condemned the actions of those who undermine the system through bad work habits.
He emphasized that the government would no longer condone indiscipline or lack of dedication in the country’s workforce, and reiterated its determination to build a more responsive and performance-based civil service.
“The government has invested significantly in improving infrastructure and working conditions at the secretariat. Workers must reciprocate with dedication and productivity,” he added.
During the inspection tour, Soludo engaged directly with staff members, assessing not only attendance but also the broader work culture within the system.
Giving a frank assessment, the governor praised the “good people” in the civil service—those who have remained consistent in their professionalism and punctuality—and stressed that their contributions are critical in achieving the government’s development agenda.
However, he warned that persistent lateness and absenteeism would have severe consequences.
“Those who fail to meet punctuality standards will be fired.
“The era of low performance and rights of civil servants is over.
“We are committed to developing a civil service that is agile, effective and efficient.
“To achieve this, the government is prioritizing three key pillars of reform: adoption of technology – the transition to digital workflows to increase speed and transparency.
“Effective monitoring and evaluation – implementing rigorous performance tracking to ensure accountability at all levels and improving physical infrastructure – sustains the modernization of the secretariat to provide a conducive working environment.”
The governor said the surprise visit was intended as a clear signal of his administration’s determination to overhaul the state bureaucracy.
He emphasized that by combining technological innovation and strict discipline, the government aims to reposition the civil service as a high-performance engine for delivering the benefits of democracy to the people of Anambra.
