HOS Moves To Check Truancy In Service

In a bid to check lateness to
work and absenteeism by staff of the Rivers State Civil Service, attendance registers in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are to be kept in the office of the Permanent Secretaries.
The directive was given by the Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn last Thursday during an unscheduled visit to MDAs in the State Secretariat, Complex, Port Harcourt.
Barr Longjohn noted with disgust that in most of the MDAs visited, less than 10 percent of the staff had reported for work as at 8.45 am and directed that workers sign the attendance registers in the office of their Permanent Secretaries to ensure punctual and regular attendance to work.
He stressed that if workers were made to sign the attendance registers in the Permanent Secretaries’ office, it would not be necessary to check workers regularly as the attendance registers would identify culprits, while disciplinary actions would be taken against such culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Head of Service frowned at the indiscriminate construction of office spaces, iron protectors and other structures along the corridors and directed that such structures be removed within 48 hours, noting that the structures pose a threat to the safety of workers in times of emergencies and had often prevented fire fighters from getting access to the offices during fire outbreaks.
He also directed that all exit staircases be kept open during working hours to ensure the safety of workers in times of emergency and requested that reflective signs be mounted on the corridors to indicate the location of emergency exists.
Barr LongJohn ordered the closure of all unauthorized restaurants and business centres operating in the MDAs to create more office spaces for staff as well as provide alternative offices for staff of MDAs domiciled in the Podium Block who may be relocated during reconstruction work that would commence soon.

Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) recently won the Best Regional University Award from Europe Business Assembly, United Kingdom. Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. B. B. Fakae displaying the award at a press briefing, recently. With him are Registrar of the institution, Mrs Daba Odumabo, Deputy VC, Prof. Howells Hart and Librarian, Dr Blessing Ahiazu.