Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia locked out hundreds of civil servants on Wednesday during an unannounced visit to the state secretariat, where he found only a few workers present.
Upon arriving around 10:35 AM to inspect ongoing renovation works, including new lighting installations, security personnel closed the gates, leaving many civil servants unable to enter.
During his tour of various ministries, the governor expressed disappointment upon discovering that several commissioners and senior officials were absent.
As he left the secretariat, Governor Alia addressed the crowd of workers gathered at the gate, expressing his concerns over their lackadaisical approach to their duties.
He stated, “By not fulfilling your responsibilities, you are creating a vicious cycle for your families. You cannot thrive if you engage in dishonesty and neglect your work.”
He emphasized, “The work I do is for those who may not recognize me as governor. I’m appealing to you as a priest, not just as a governor, to consider the consequences of your actions.”
Concluding his remarks, he noted, “Government is not just one person; all of you are part of it. Just as there are rules in a family, there are rules in governance. I am not frustrated, but I want to prevent you from facing dire consequences.”
“Consider what you can do, not just for yourselves, but for those you care for, as they are the ones who will bear the impact of your actions.”
