Anambra: Soludo shocks civil servants with unscheduled secretariat visit

Hundreds of Anambra State civil servants on Thursday faced threats of dismissal and suspension as the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the State Secretariat complex in Awka, the state capital.

During the visit with his team at about 10:30 am, the governor discovered, to his shock, that the majority of workers were not in their offices, with many departments completely empty during official hours.

Investigations by Tribune Online revealed that most of the workers had abandoned their duties for private concerns, including businesses, mid-week church services, and other commercial ventures.

He ordered the security guards at the entrance gate to lock the area, prompting many workers to besiege the gate upon learning of his presence.

Soludo used the opportunity of the inspection visit to assess truancy, punctuality, dereliction of duty, and dedication to work, among other factors.

The governor uncovered that in some ministries and departments where between eight and ten or more workers were expected, only two—or none—were on duty during the visit.

The visit covered inspections of the ministries and departments and aimed to evaluate the current work culture and the level of commitment among public servants.

The governor engaged directly with workers, heads of departments, and permanent secretaries during the exercise. He also observed general operations while interacting with officials across different cadres.

It was learnt that the inspection visit is part of measures by the state government to reform the civil service and inject new blood into the system.

Governor Soludo was said to have threatened to eject non-performing staff of some ministries.

Further investigations revealed that many workers, upon receiving information about the governor’s visit, rushed to the Secretariat to ascertain their fate. Most arrived in unkempt dress, showing distress, with some carrying travel luggage and wares from markets.

As of 3:25 pm, when a reporter visited the Secretariat complex, the majority of workers were seen alighting from tricycles and racing into offices to get updates on the governor’s visit.

Furthermore, the new Head of Service (HOS), Barrister (Mrs) Ngozi Iwouno, was engaged in crucial meetings with various permanent secretaries and heads of departments following the governor’s sudden visit.

Governor Soludo, in an interview with newsmen shortly after the inspection, described his findings as a combination of “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” He noted that while some civil servants demonstrated commendable professionalism, others fell short of expected standards.

He commended diligent workers who maintain punctuality and uphold the ethics of public service, describing them as critical to the effective functioning of government.

The governor expressed concern over lateness, absenteeism, and lack of commitment among some employees. He warned that his government would not tolerate indolence and inefficiency, adding that workers unwilling to align with the state’s reform agenda would face consequences.

“Those who do not align with the new vision for the civil service will be exited,” he said, adding that the government is determined to instil discipline and improve service delivery.

Soludo highlighted ongoing investments by his administration in strengthening the civil service, including the deployment of technology, enhanced supervision and evaluation mechanisms, and infrastructure upgrades within the Secretariat.

He explained that the goal is to build a responsive, efficient, and results-oriented public service capable of meeting the expectations of the people of Anambra State and supporting broader development objectives.

Soludo expressed shock that most civil servants had not reported for duty by 10 am and ordered the compilation of a list of staff present, announcing that those absent would be suspended.

“What would a civil servant be doing at this time by 10 am when he is supposed to be in the office?” Soludo queried.

Chief Press Secretary to Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime, provided further clarification on the governor’s visit: “The unscheduled visit was conducted to evaluate staff conduct, punctuality, and overall dedication to public service. During his inspection of various ministries and departments, the Governor engaged directly with personnel to gauge the prevailing work culture. Providing a candid situational report, Governor Soludo described his observations as a composite of ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly.’

“The Governor, however, paid high tribute to the ‘good people’ within the system—the disciplined civil servants who have consistently maintained professional integrity and strict adherence to official work hours, emphasising that their dedication remains the bedrock of his administration’s developmental goals.

“In a stern address to the workforce, Governor Soludo issued a final warning to non-performing elements. He stated unequivocally that individuals who fail to align with the administration’s vision ‘will be shipped out.’

“Addressing the issue of chronic absenteeism and late-coming, the Governor noted that those who fail to meet time-keeping standards ‘will be pinned off’, asserting that the era of lacklustre performance and entitlement in the civil service has come to an end.

“Governor Soludo reiterated his commitment to evolving a civil service that is agile, effective, and efficient. To achieve this, the administration is prioritising three key pillars of reform: Deployment of Technology; transitioning toward digital workflows to enhance speed and transparency, Effective Supervision and Evaluation; implementing rigorous performance tracking to ensure accountability at all levels, Physical Infrastructure Improvements; sustaining the modernisation of the Secretariat to provide a conducive work environment.

“We have invested quite a bit in this place,” the Governor remarked, referencing the ongoing infrastructural upgrades. He maintained that the government’s significant investment in the Secretariat must be reciprocated by a renewed sense of duty and productivity from the staff.

“The Governor’s visit serves as a definitive directive for the total transformation of the state’s bureaucracy. By integrating technological innovation with strict disciplinary oversight, the administration aims to ensure that the civil service remains a high-performance vehicle for the delivery of dividends of democracy to Ndi Anambra,” Aburime added.