Federal workers shun office after public holiday

Most federal workers failed to resume in their offices on Friday in Abuja as the two-day public holiday declared by the government to mark the Christmas celebration ended on Thursday.

The federal secretariat, Abuja, which houses the various ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government was desolate and devoid of the hustle and bustle associated with the huge numbers of workers and visitors that usually throng the complex.

Our correspondents, who drove through the secretariat, observed that only few workers turned up. They however closed early and returned home.

Security guards and policemen were on hand to screen the few workers that resumed for work.

Ministries of health, education and police affairs, and other offices were under lock and key.

The situation was the same at the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation where only a few staff were seen.

Findings indicated that most of the civil servants had travelled out of the city to their villages and hometowns to celebrate the Yuletide with their folks