Cross River governor locks out latecomers

There was mild drama at the Government House in Calabar on Monday as the new governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, on his first official day in office locked out civil servants that had yet to resume for work at 8.10am.

The governor, who resumed work at about 7.45am met an almost empty complex and directed the Head of Service, Mrs. Mary-Theresa Ikwen, to shut the gate to the Government House.

He also directed that henceforth, the gates to all Ministries, Department and Agencies, should be shut by 8.10am daily in order to curb lateness.

 

However, the governor, who ordered that the gate be reopened at about 8.40am, warned all heads of MDAs to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring that civil servants served in line with the prescribed civil service rules.

Ayade said, “If heads of MDAs could report to work as early as 8am, I see no reason why their subordinates should not be in their respective offices on or before that time. For those who are late today, we will pardon them but from tomorrow, all latecomers will be locked outside and sanctioned accordingly.”

...Punch