BY CHIKA KWAMBA
THE Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission (CSC) Dr. Roseline Amioku, on Wednesday, warned all Permanent Secretaries and Directors, who condone absenteeism and abscondment from duty to do the needful or be severely sanctioned.
Dr. Amioku gave the caution at the 2024 annual monitoring exercise organised by the Civil Service commission at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat Complex, Asaba, the state capital.
Addressing participants at the monitoring exercise, the chairman buttressed the need for all Permanent Secretaries and Directors to lead by example, for others to follow.
In her words: “it is our statutory duty to monitor our staffs and to work in synergy with you and not in isolation, that is why this monitoring exercise will continue so that we know ourselves, the problems confronting the workforce and find a lasting solution to them.
“I, therefore, appeal to all officers to inculcate the habit of reporting to work early.The permanent secretaries and directors should educate their staff on the need to be punctual, adding that the official resumption time is 8am, and not 10am. “To alienate the misconduct of absenteeism and abscondment from work, we have decided that any officer who travelled without official approval and reporting to the Commission, the permanent secretary or directors who approved such leave will be surcharged. Also all MDAs should have a desk officer that monitors those on study leave and absentees”, Amioku affirmed
Also speaking during the event, the Second Commissioner of the Commission, Dr. Pemu Akpufuoma re-emphasized the need for civil servants to adhere strictly to public service rules, advising participants to pass down same information to other workers.
Akpufuoma enjoined all permanent secretaries to administer the Oath of Secrecy to their staffs. “As a civil servant you are exposed to sensitive information regardless of your ministry, anyone who handles a confidential file must signed the Oath of Secrecy.
Other guidelines to maintain includes: Prompt submission of promotion briefs to avert delay, create desk officer to checkmate the abuse of study leave, regular medical checkups, absenteeism from duty, attachment of nominal roles, swift handling of disciplinary cases and to conduct quarterly audit of staffs.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Dr. Minnie Oseji in her opening address, applauded the newly appointed chairman for her unflinching commitment to the development and progress of civil servants in the state.
“I assure the chairman and members of the Commission that all the MDA’s are committed to the MORE Agenda policy of the State Governor, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and today’s attendance is a pointer that all MDA’s are ready to interact with the commission. We are aware of the number of challenges and we believe as the programme progresses those challenges will be outlined” Oseji posited.
Other pressing issues tabled by participants included: review of the state Contributory Health Scheme for better service delivery, workers transport service to curb the pains of means of transportation, proper orientation course for civil servants, review tax and pension system.
Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) present at the exercise were; Directorate of Job and Wealth Creation, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Ministry of Justice, Urban Regional Planning Board, Science and Technology, Directorate Culture and Tourism, Humanitarian and Community Support Services, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Environment, and Board of Revenue.
