Subsidy Removal: Kwara State government reduces workdays for civil servants to three days per week

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state on Monday directed that the workdays of public workers be reduced from five days to three days per week.

The State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole announced the directive in Ilorin, saying that the state government approved the reduction as a temporary palliative measure to bring some ease to workers following the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government.

The directive, aimed at mitigating the hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies by the Federal Government, was conveyed through a statement signed by Murtala Atoyebi, the Chief Press Secretary in the office of the HOS.

Mrs. Oluwole emphasized that the purpose of this measure is to provide relief to the workers who have been grappling with the skyrocketing cost of transportation. By reducing the number of work days, the government aims to ease the financial burden on employees and help them cope with the increased transport expenses resulting from the fuel subsidy removal.

To ensure effective implementation, the Head of Service instructed all Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to promptly devise a format indicating the alternating work days for each employee under their purview. This arrangement will enable a smooth transition to the new schedule and ensure that all workers are aware of their designated work days.

While the government has shown compassion towards the workers, Mrs. Oluwole cautioned against ab¥sing the governor’s generosity. She stressed that the Head of Service’s office would intensify its monitoring of MDAs to ensure strict compliance with the new directive. The government expects employees to adhere to the revised work schedule diligently and demonstrate professionalism in their duties. The temporary reduction in work days is seen as a proactive step by the Kwara State Government to address the immediate financial challenges faced by public workers.