Minister of Works David Umahi has declared 17 days Christmas and New Year holidays for civil servants in his ministry.
Mr Umahi revealed this in an internal memo dated December 21, 2023 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Director Human Resources, all directors and all staff.
The memo, titled: ‘Holiday break in the Federal Ministry of Works,” was personally signed by the minister.
According to the memo, the holiday for all workers at the works ministry will begin from 1:00pm on Friday, December 22, 2023 and end on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The only exemption are security and fire service personnel, the memo said. Essential staff may be summoned during emergencies, it said.
Mr Umahi said his memo was following President Bola Tinubu’s earlier directive to ministers. He said the president has declared 2I days holiday for members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
However, the federal government, through the interior ministry, on Friday declared December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024 as public holidays for all federal workers.
The memo reads thus:
1- Mr. President has just given holiday break to all Federal Executive Council (FEC) Members from Thursday, 21 December, 2023 to Wednesday, 10 January, 2024.
2 – In the Federal Ministry of Works, the Office shall officially close for break from Friday, 22nd December, 2023 at 1:00p.m. to Sunday, 7th January, 2024.
3- Work is expected to resume from Monday, 8th January, 2024.
4- During this period, the Permanent Secretary (PS) and Director Human Resources (DHR) will arrange for the required essential staff that will be permitted to work in the Offices and within Federal Ministry of Works compounds.
5- Should there be need for any Director to perform any official function, the DHR, PS and Honorable Minister must be notified for permission otherwise no official function will be required during this period.
6- During this period, a Director or Staff may be be recalled to perform an urgent duty subject to clause 3 of this memo and such staff must have to oblige to perform such duties.
7- No one is permitted to sign any document on behalf of the Honorable Minister.
6- Honorable Minister within this period will be available to attend to an emergencies during this period.
7- Security personnel and fire personnel must be on duty within this period.
8- Electrical appliances must be switched off from the main in all offices and spaces in all the buildings.
9- Staff must exercise maximum caution while traveling and during the bolidays.
10- All Staff phones must please be reachable during the break.
10- I wish all our staff beneficial Christmas and a more glorious New Year.
