On Friday in Awka, the Anambra State Government began investigating civil servants accused of coming late to work and staying away from duty without approval after a surprise inspection by Governor Chukwuma Soludo revealed widespread absence across ministries.
The affected workers were invited to appear before a special disciplinary panel set up under the Public Service Rules to review cases of lateness and absenteeism. The action followed the governor’s unannounced visit to the state secretariat in March, where a large number of workers were not found at their duty posts.
The committee, sitting at the Office of the Head of Service, questioned several staff members over their conduct. The panel is led by Nkiru Nwankwo, a permanent secretary, who explained that failing to report to work on time or staying away without permission goes against the rules guiding public service employment.
She said workers are expected to follow proper procedures if they are unable to report to duty, including notifying the appropriate authorities ahead of time. She also warned that collecting salaries without working is against the law and could attract punishment under the service rules.
Other members of the panel advised workers to take their responsibilities more seriously. Chuma Uwolloh, a member of the Civil Service Commission, warned that repeated violations would lead to sanctions, while Chinyere Nwabachili cautioned against combining government duties with personal business at the expense of official work.
Earlier in the session, Jerome Ilokwu explained that the ongoing process involves reviewing responses already submitted by the affected workers and that final decisions would be communicated later.
The panel also disclosed that more unannounced visits would be carried out across ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure compliance with work standards. The move is part of efforts by the state government to improve discipline and efficiency in the public service after the earlier inspection exposed gaps in attendance and commitment.