Low turnout as workers resume after new year celebration in Abia
Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abia recorded a low turnout of civil servants as work resumed on Tuesday after the New Year celebration.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) correspondent, who monitored the resumption of work in Umuahia, reports that only a few workers were seen at their duty posts.
Most of the offices visited at the State Secretariat, located at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, were under lock and key while the few workers around were seen cleaning up their offices.
The incursion of harmattan dust on building openings made the secretariat look like a place deserted for months.
Meanwhile, other workers were seen in groups, exchanging pleasantries and sharing their holiday experiences.
Also at the secretariat, the eateries and shops had yet to open for business, while the car parks were literally empty.
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VMT NEWS gathered that a lot of workers who traveled home for the celebration are yet to return.
Most of the workers refused to speak to our correspondent, saying that they were not permitted to grant interviews to the press.
However, some of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that majority of those who travelled may not come back till weekend.
They said that the workers were expected to resume fully by Monday.
A director in the Ministry of Lands and Survey while condemning the trend of low turnout, said that it was a breach in the the civil service rule.
“Work has resumed and you can see me in office, but I cannot do much because those working with me are yet to resume.
“I appeal to them to come to work because a directive for resumption was passed even before the holiday,” he said.
A civil servant, Mrs Christy Kalu said that the low turnout was normally witnessed after festivities.
According to her, a lot of events usually take place within this festive period, especially in Igbo land, as most people usually stay behind to witness it.
