Mrs. Susan Oluwole, The Kwara Head of Service, said that stiff penalties would be taken against any government worker found wanting in their duty.

Oluwole expressed dissatisfaction with the poor turnout of staff at their workplaces.

Oluwole said this on Friday in Ilorin, during her routine visit to Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

She warned that the government would not condone dereliction of duty while directing all Heads of MDAs in the state service to immediately resume the time book register for their staff.

Oluwole decried the non-challenge of some workers to duty in spite of the government’s efforts and commitment toward providing a conducive working environment and improved welfare for the workforce.

At the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, the HOS was astonished when she sighted a few staff who resumed work by 9 a.m. during her visit.

“We cannot continue like this. There are rules guiding the civil service and they must be obeyed,” she said.

Oluwole queried the justification for the continued clamor for salary increases by civil servants when workers would not show dedication to duty.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, in his response, lamented the herculean task of checking absenteeism and lateness by the members of staff of the Board.

He pleaded with the HOS to take prompt action, noting that the problem had adversely affected service delivery in the civil service.

The Head of Service was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Alhaji Salami Tunde Suleiman; the Permanent Secretary of Establishment, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim; Hajia Fatima Abolore Jimoh, Director, Establishment and the Director, Staff Matters, Mr Anthony Gana.