Minister of Works, David Umahi has approved a 16-day break for civil servants in his ministry to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays.
This was contained in a memo titled ‘Holiday break in the Federal Ministry of Works’, which was personally signed by the minister.
Dated December 21, the circular announcing approval of the over two-week break was addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Director Human Resources, and directors of the ministry.
While warning against signing any document on his behalf, the minister however exempted security and fire service personnel, which the memo said may be summoned during emergencies.
Umahi’s directive comes barely two days after the Accountant General, Oluwatoyin Madein issued a similar memo directing all government accounts to be closed before December 31.
The minister said, “Mr President has just given a holiday break to all Federal Executive Council members from Thursday, 21st December to Wednesday, 10th January 2024. In the Federal Ministry of Works, the office shall officially close for a break from Friday, 22nd December at 1 00pm to Sunday, 7th January 2024.
“Work is expected to resume from Monday, 8th January, 2024. During this period, the Permanent Secretary and Director Human Resources will arrange for required essential staff that will be permitted to work in the offices and within Federal Ministry of Works compounds.
“No one is permitted to sign any document on behalf of the honourable minister within this period. The honourable minister will be available to attend to any emergencies during this period. Security and fire prevention personnel must all be on duty within the period. Staff must exercise maximum caution while travelling during the holiday and all staff phones must be reachable during the break.”
There are however concerns that such a long holiday ought not to be contemplated by the works ministry in view of the plethora of infrastructure projects currently ongoing across the country.
A civil society activist, Isaac Nwobu, wondered how the minister plans to ensure continuity of such ongoing projects, many of which he said require monitoring and payment to contractors.
He said, “How can a minister grant such a holiday when the federal government has already issued a circular for holiday? And to imagine that it’s a ministry where contractors and other service providers are in the field working without ceasing.
“Is Umahi implying that payment and other critical official duties must be put in abeyance for two weeks?
Frank Akinpelu, a student, also likened Umahi’s 16-day holiday directive to sabotage.
“Such a long break is unnecessary. There is no better way of killing a nation,” he said.
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