Federal Government to tackle sudden death among civil servants

As part of efforts to promote a healthy workforce in the Civil Service, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has established a new wellness centre in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

This was as she urged civil servants to eschew sedentary lifestyles, adding that such lifestyle contributes greatly to sudden deaths occasioned by ailments caused majorly by stress.

According to her, a healthy body translates into significant reduction in medical conditions, thereby enhancing the output of workers, in particular, and the attainment of national developmental goals, in general.

Yemi-Esan said this during the commissioning of the Centre, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Yemi-Esan described the establishment of the Employee Wellness Centre within the Federal Secretariat Complex as one of the most proactive responses by the Federal Government to the critical need of mitigating preventable medical conditions, which have become prevalent in our society, in general and amongst Civil Servants, in particular.

Explaining that the world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in work-related diseases, she advised civil servants to make the best use of the services being offered by the newly established Employee Wellness Centre.

She revealed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration has taken proactive measures toward enhancing the value proposition and welfare of Civil Servants, as articulated in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP 25).

She stressed that the incorporation of Staff Welfare as one of the six pillars of the Strategy underscores the value Government places on the lives and well-being of workers.

Earlier, the SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that the Centre was modified and equipped by the OSSAP-SDGs and handed over to the OHCSF for commissioning and management.

Adefulire who was represented by the Director, of Administration, Mrs Ijeoma Ukaejiofor, stressed that the establishment of the Centre is to promote good health and well-being of Civil Servants, in line with Goal 3 of the SDGs earlier in her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, SWO, OHCSF, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, stated that the Wellness Centre is a demonstration of the continuous drive of the Head of Service to showcase commitment to the welfare of workers as captured in the FCSSIP25.

Dr Onwudiwe disclosed that the Centre is not another clinic but a physical wellness Centre, where Civil Servants can regularly check their blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, amongst others, as well as properly manage their health statuses.

FG hints at increasing salaries of civil servants

The federal government has hinted at increasing the salaries of civil servants in the country to meet the current economic realities.

Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige in his speech at the public presentation of NLC’s 40 publications titled, ‘contemporary history of working-class struggles’ held in Abuja on Monday September 19, said the federal government knows that the N30,000 national minimum wage has lost its value.

Ngige said;

“Yes the inflation has increased worldwide and it is not confined to Nigeria, that is why in many jurisdictions, it is an adjustment of wages right now.

“As the Nigerian government, we shall adjust in conformity with what is happening in wages.

“More importantly, the 2019 national minimum wage act, right now has a clause for the review, which we started then, I do not know whether it is due next year or 2024.

“But before then, the adjustment of wages will reflect what is happening in the economy, just as the government has started the adjustment with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”

Kano govt orders civil servants to work from home

The Kano State government on Tuesday ordered civil servants in the state to work from home and await further instruction on the matter.

The Kano State Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who disclosed this to journalists in Kano, said the decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday.

According to him, the move was one of the measures taken by the government to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

However, workers on essential services such as the healthcare service providers, fire service, water board, teaching staff, security guards, and the media are not affected by the directive.

The government also imposed a fresh ban on viewing and event centres across Kano State.

Kano State currently has 2, 617 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 70 fatalities, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

BENUE State Government has again declared Fridays as work-free days for civil servants in the state.

The work-free day, according to the state government, begins on November 6 till January 29, 2021, while normal weekly work schedule will resume on February 5, 2021.

The development, it was gathered, was to allow civil servants the opportunity to harvest their farm produce.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Ngunan Addingi, “the declaration of Fridays as work-free days is to improve food security in the state.”

The governor always declared Fridays for the state workers during plant and harvest seasons.

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