The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered an overhaul of the State Civil Service following a surprise inspection that revealed widespread concerns over punctuality, discipline and work ethic.
The unscheduled visit to the state secretariat in Awka saw the Governor move through ministries and departments, engaging directly with staff to assess their conduct and commitment to public service.
He said the exercise was aimed at evaluating the prevailing work culture within the state’s administrative system.
Delivering a candid appraisal afterwards, Soludo described his findings as a mix of “the good, the bad and the ugly.” He praised diligent employees, whom he called the “good eggs”, for maintaining professionalism, punctuality and integrity, noting that their dedication remains vital to the administration’s development agenda.
However, the Governor struck a firm tone on underperformance, warning that indiscipline would no longer be tolerated. He ordered the immediate suspension without pay of any civil servant not present at their duty post after 10 a.m. during the inspection and signalled broader consequences for persistent absenteeism and lateness.
“Anambra is an A-state and cannot afford an inefficient civil service,” Soludo said, emphasising that workers who fail to align with the administration’s standards would be removed from the system.
The Governor reiterated his commitment to building a disciplined, agile and results-driven public service, outlining a reform agenda anchored on three key pillars: the deployment of digital technologies to improve efficiency and transparency, strengthened supervision and performance evaluation mechanisms, and continued investment in infrastructure to enhance working conditions.
He noted that the government has already committed significant resources to upgrading facilities at the secretariat and expects a corresponding improvement in productivity and accountability from staff.
“The inspection emphasises my administration’s determination to transform the state’s bureaucracy into a high-performing institution capable of delivering effective governance and tangible benefits to the people,” the Governor concluded.