Rivers council chair locks out workers for lateness

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has shut the gate of the council denying workers, who came late, access to their offices.

Lloyd resumed duty under a tree a few weeks ago after his inauguration to monitor the activities of the council workers.

On assumption of office, Lloyd warned that his administration would not tolerate lateness and absence from members of staff.

Some workers of the council were seen stranded at the council’s gate on Wednesday following the decision of the chairman to lock the gate at 8am.

The council chair reportedly arrived office at about 7:30am and waited till 8am to lock the gate against latecomers.

Lloyd also introduced a new attendance register for the council and workers.

Workers were seen on a long queue jostling to write their names.

But the council boss was said to have reconsidered his decision following the intervention of the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employee, (NULGE).

Addressing the workers, Lloyd tasked them to be diligent in their duties to justify their salaries.

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He said gone were the days when workers, who did not go to work received salaries at the end of the month.

He directed the Head of Personnel Management of the local government to issue queries to workers, who came to work late, as well as persons, who did not come to work at all.

He said: “Gone are the days when people stay in their homes and expect salaries for the work they didn’t do. I understand that this has been your tradition before now but I must tell you that we are not going to tolerate all that.

“We will not tolerate lateness to duty. We are not going to tolerate a situation where workers come to work after the local government Chairman.

“We must not continue with the old ways that haven’t been helpful to the local government. So, the HPM should issue queries to all those who came to work late today and let us also have the record of those who do not come to work.”