Governor Chukwuma Soludo has ordered the suspension of civil servants who were absent from duty as of 10:00 a.m. during a surprise visit to the Anambra State Secretariat in Awka on Thursday.

The directive followed an on-the-spot assessment by the governor to evaluate workers’ punctuality, conduct, and level of commitment across various ministries and departments.

Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Soludo said any worker not found at their duty post by 10:00 a.m. should be suspended without pay, describing the situation as unacceptable.

According to him, a significant number of workers were absent despite the time being well past the official resumption hour. He warned that such lapses would no longer be tolerated in the state’s civil service.

The governor further stated that underperforming staff, which he described as “bad eggs,” would be removed from the system, stressing that Anambra could not afford inefficiency in its public service.

Soludo characterized his findings as a mix of “the good, the bad and the ugly,” expressing concern over absenteeism and poor work ethic among some workers, while also commending those who demonstrated diligence and commitment.

He reiterated his administration’s resolve to build a disciplined, efficient, and results-oriented civil service, noting that ongoing reforms would be strictly enforced.

The governor added that the state government had made significant investments in improving infrastructure and working conditions at the secretariat and urged workers to reciprocate with greater dedication and productivity.