UYO
The Public Service Monitoring Committee has frowned on the level of lateness, absenteeism and other unethical attitudes of workers observed, recently, during the Committee’s routine monitoring visits to government offices.
The committee chairman, Otuekong Nse Edem, explained that the exercise was in line with its mandate of ensuring punctuality, adherence to service ethics and effective work delivery in the Public Service.
The Monitoring Committee had taken its routine monitoring to the Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Uyo; Examination and Certification Division, Ministry of Education, Uwa Street and the Agency for Adult and Non Formal Education at Ewet Street, all in Uyo.
At the Council for Arts and Culture, only two staff were seen in office at about 8:45am.
Expressing his dismay at the unkempt and bushy state of the Council’s premises, the committee chairman described it as most unhygienic and appalling.
Similarly, at the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education, only a staff, Mr Godwin Asanga, an assistant chief education officer, was seen in the office at about 9. 30 am.
Asanga informed the team that he was unable to sign the attendance register because the office where the registers are kept was yet to be opened as the director of the Agency and the head of Administration were in custody of the keys.
At the Examination and Certification Division, staff were seen at their duty posts.
Chairman of the Committee commended them for their punctuality to work and called on them to always clean up the office environment for a healthy living.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Rose Bassey, said the Ministry has made financial provision in its budget estimate towards giving the Examination Division a complete facelift in order to enhance a more conducive work environment for the staff.
Responding, the director of the Examination Division, Mr. Akaninyene Inyang, lauded the Committee for the visit and informed the team that the Division was at the peak of monitoring and supervising the various state examinations in order to ensure Akwa Ibom children and other pupils and students resident in the state are properly placed to commence their academic pursuits as the new academic session rolls in by September.
He was appreciative of the state government’s support to the Exams Division through the Ministry of Education, which has facilitated the prompt discharge of its responsibilities.
Speaking to newsmen after the inspection, Edem observed that the earlier two offices visited were like barren grounds, saying “I am disappointed by the seeming frustration, uncomplimentary attitude and behaviour of the personnel which is unacceptable, most especially when the government has not negated in her responsibility to pay salaries regularly and other welfare demands of the workers.”
Edem, who is also the permanent secretary, Ministry of Transport, on behalf of his Committee, commend the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for his leadership qualities and favourable disposition to workers’ welfare as demonstrated in the prompt payment of workers entitlements.
He, therefore, called on workers to reciprocate government’s gestures through early resumption and commitment to assigned duties for optimal productivity, noting that to whom much is given, much is also expected.
He was also grateful to the head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, for his encouragement, support and special interest in the welfare of Akwa Ibom State Civil and Public Servants.
Accompanying the chairman during the inspection were permanent secretary, Civil Service Commission, Mr Effiong Nicholas and his Local Government Service Commission counterpart, Mrs Regina Okonko as well as the representative of Labour in the Committee, Comrade Comfort Ekwere, and the committee secretary, Mr John Offiong.
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