By Adebisi Adeyemi Lagos
Many civil servants resumed work late on Wednesday at the Federal Secretariat, Ibadan after the two-day Christmas break due to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.
There was a low turnout of workers in their offices at the secretariat complex, located at Ikolaba, Ibadan.
As at 9.30 a.m., some of the offices were still under lock and key while those that were opened had a few staff at their duty posts.
Some of the early callers in their respective offices blamed the lateness and low turnout of civil servants on the lingering fuel scarcity.
They also disclosed that many of the workers were yet to resume from their annual leave, which extended into the new year.
However, skeletal services were ongoing in some of the offices, as those who were present were seen at their duty posts dusting tables and files.
An official at the Ministry of Housing, Mrs Folake Allen, said she was happy that work had resumed after the two days break and that she was fully back to work.
Allen said it was time for serious civil servants to get back to work for their statutory duties, as 2017 service year was about to end.
Mrs Bito Usman, a staff of the ministry of Labour and Productivity, expressed joy on the Christmas break, saying that she was able to spend enough time with her family.
Usman opined that the low turnout of workers was probably due to the fact that some of them were still on annual leave and the fuel scarcity had compounded the situation.
She, however, expressed optimism that activities at the secretariat would pick up gradually since some of the workers were coming back from their various towns and villages where they celebrated Christmas.
Also, at the Auditor-General Office, Ms Maryam Oladejo, said the holiday was timely, as she was able to rest and engage in other domestic activities.
Oladejo enjoined civil servants to be more alive to their responsibilities, as part of their contribution to national development.
Meanwhile, business activities have picked up in Ibadan, as patronage has increased in banks, market places and other public concerns. vehicular movement has increased along major roads in Ibadan unlike the gridlock that characterised the situation before the holiday.
