Yobe State has fired a stern warning to lazy public servants: be at your post, on time, or face the music.
Following an unannounced sting operation across ministries, the government has uncovered a culture of truancy, habitual lateness, and clocking out early. Now, the Head of Service is tightening the noose, vowing that offenders will be slapped with disciplinary action under the Yobe State Public Service Rules.
The surprise inspection carried out by a team from the Office of the Head of Service—caught several workers red-handed, either absent from their desks or sneaking off before official closing time.
In a no-nonsense circular, the government has ordered Permanent Secretaries and agency heads to enforce strict compliance, reminding every civil servant that they are expected to remain at their duty posts throughout official working hours no excuses.
Alhaji Hamidu Isa Babi, Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Head of Service, made it clear: “We will intensify monitoring across all MDAs. Officers must report on time and stay put. Professionalism and discipline are non-negotiable.”
However, not all were caught slacking. Head of Service Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Shehu publicly commended Hajiya Salamatu Yahaya (Ministry of Home Affairs) and Dr. Idris Yusuf Madaki (Livestock Development) for being at their posts, leading by example. “Their presence sets the right tone,” he said.
But some workers are crying foul, blaming the bad culture on transportation nightmares. One anonymous staffer pleaded with the government to introduce soft loans for motorcycles and vehicles, arguing that “many live far from work.”
Another worker, however, took a tougher stance, urging the government to give department heads real power to sanction offenders without political interference and to kill nepotism dead. “Discipline must be fair and firm,” he said.
Permanent Secretary Salamatu Yahaya praised the inspection as a wake-up call, urging all senior managers, parents, and staff to embrace punctuality and integrity.
The Yobe State Government has now drawn a line in the sand: violate attendance rules, and you will be sanctioned. The message is loud and clear this is a new era of accountability, and the days of the “ghost worker” are numbered.
