The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), DR. (MRS.) FOLASADE YEMI-ESAN has stated that the welfare of Civil Servants is paramount and would not want them to work in conditions that could further endanger their health especially at this pandemic era.
She disclosed this while inspecting the Phase 1 Complex of the Federal Secretariat recently in Abuja.
DR YEMI-ESAN explained that the Office has given Permanent Secretaries guidelines on what they should do and what they should provide for staff to support the efforts of Government to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces. She said that the inspection was to ascertain how much of the instructions have been implemented.
From her assessment, DR YEMI ESAN commended the Permanent Secretaries in the complex for providing hand washing points placed in strategic places, noting that enough sanitizing points have being put in place to avoid the spread of the virus.
The HCSF however expressed displeasure from her inspection of some toilets in the Complex. She therefore enjoined all the Permanent Secretaries concerned to improve on the toilet facilities before her next visit.
She emphasized that apart from the efforts of the Permanent Secretaries, the HCSF is also working with the FCTA and the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the working condition in the Federal Secretariats are improved upon especially at this period.
Also speaking during the inspection, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, MR. OLUSADE ADESOLA, who chairs the Ad-hoc Committee of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s) in the Phase I Secretariat stated that efforts are being put in place to ensure adequate supply of water in the complex, because without water, it would be difficult to maintain a clean environment.
OLUSADE explained the various measures being put in place for staff to ensure a safe work environment. According to him, “hand washing points are situated in all entry points of the Complex, hand sanitizers are also provided by respective Ministries at the respective floors and individual Ministries have been enjoined to provide face mask for their staff”.
It will be recalled that, on Wednesday, 25 March, 2020, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, MR. OLUSADE ADESOLA chaired a meeting of MDAs resident in the Phase I Federal Secretariat to address measures that would help prevent infection of Covid-19 among staff reporting for duties.
