After Being Accused Of Paying Idle People N4 Trillion, FG Orders Civil Servants To Resume

Federal civil servants from grade-level 12 downward have finally been asked to resume after staying at home for eleven months to avoid contracting COVID-19.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, ordered the resumption in a circular titled “Resumption of duties by Officers on GL 12 and below” with reference number HCSF/3065/VOL.I/107.

The directive came nine days after THE WHISTLER reported that former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka, slammed the Federal Government for keeping the public servants at home while private organizations had long resumed work.

Chidoka had said, “So, we borrow every month to pay salaries to those who do not work? This negligent act is a sad reminder of the seriousness we are confronting the nation’s existential challenges.

“Someone needs to explain to the nation why civil servants are still at home and receiving salaries monthly? In 2020 and 2021, the government budget for personnel cost was about 6.8 Trillion Naira, implying that we have paid over 4 Trillion to people who did no work for the government.”

The Federal Government had in December 2020 ordered the civil servants to stay at home due to rising COVID-19 cases. The directive was extended three times.

Yemi-Esan, in the latest circular, said she asked the civil servants to resume on the advice of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

The head of service said the resuming civil servants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours.

“It will be recalled that as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, officers on GL 12 and below were directed to work from home. Following the advice of the Presidential, Steering Committee on COVID-19, this category of officers are expected to resume duties on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

“Furthermore, in line with the recommendation of the Committee on COVID-19, Mr. President has approved the vaccine mandate policy.

“All Federal Government employees would therefore be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours,” said the circular.