Contrary to the federal government’s three day holidays, the Minister of Works David Umahi has declared 17 days of Christmas and New Year holidays for civil servants in his ministry.
The federal government, through the interior ministry, on Friday declared December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024 as public holidays for the whole nation where public and some private sector employees are expected to observe.
However, in a move that is already generating reaction, Umahi, in an internal memo dated December 21, 2023 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Director Human Resources, all directors and all staff, approved the over two weeks break.
A copy of the memo, titled: ‘Holiday break in the Federal Ministry of Works,” and personally signed by the minister, is already trending online.
The memo stipulated that the holiday for all workers at the works ministry began from 1:00pm on Friday, December 22, 2023 and will end on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Security and fire service personnel, are however exempted, according the memo which also provides that Essential staff may be summoned during emergencies.
Umahi’s directive is coming at a time Accountant General issued a memo directing that government account be closed December 31st. It is also coming a time more committed ministries have directed some of their staff to work even during holidays so as to clear backlog of outstanding issues.
It is observed that this is the first time a minister will approve holiday outside the federal government approved days.
As should be expected, the memo has generated reactions with many describing it as indicative of discordance in the current federal government even as some noted that the works minister’s action amounts to disobedience and deliberate attempt to sabotage the government.
There are concerns that such a long holiday ought to not be contemplated by the Works ministry in view of the plethora of infrastructure projects currently ongoing across the country, most of which require both monitoring and payment to contractors.
Some Nigerians lampooned Umahi and call for his outright sack insisting that the former Ebonyi governor still sees himself as a governor where he has the right to grant holidays as he chooses.
“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 that 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? There is no better way of killing a nation” a civil society activist, Isaac Nwobu, said. Also, a student leader, Frank Akinpelu, likened Umahi’s directive to sabotage.