GOVERNMENT activities across Abuja remained largely subdued on Monday as many civil servants were yet to fully resume duties following the Yuletide and New Year holidays, resulting in sluggish commercial and official activities around the Federal Secretariat and other key government offices in the nation’s capital.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Federal Government had earlier declared Thursday, December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), Friday, December 26, 2025 (Boxing Day), and Thursday, January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day) as public holidays to mark the festive season.
However, days after the official resumption date, findings by this newspaper showed that attendance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remained significantly low, with many offices either partially occupied or completely deserted during official working hours.
A visit to several MDAs in the Federal Capital Territory revealed that as of 9:00 a.m., only a handful of workers had reported for duty. At the Federal Ministries of Health and Education, a few staff members were seen settling into their offices, while others engaged in informal conversations as normal operations were yet to take full shape.
A similar situation was observed at the Ministry of Justice, where limited activity was recorded, although some senior officials were seen holding brief meetings with subordinates.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, judicial activities were also low-key, with only a few courtrooms in session. While some departments had partially resumed operations, the usual hustle associated with court sittings was largely absent.
Speaking to BusinessDay, a civil servant who requested anonymity said he resumed work early to attend to pending assignments.
“I resumed by 8:30am to ensure continuity in our service delivery. We thank God for a peaceful holiday, and now it’s time to get back to work,” he said.
Another civil servant at the Ministry of Justice said the holiday period provided much-needed rest and time with family.
“I had a good rest and spent time with my family. Now it is time to return to work and serve the public,” she said.
Despite these assurances, observations at the Ministry of Education showed that most offices remained largely empty, with only a few workers present on Monday morning.
Some commercial banks within the Federal Capital Territory had reopened, with staff attending to customers under tight security. However, business activities were slow, reflecting the low number of civil servants returning to work.
Vehicular movement within the Federal Secretariat complex was also minimal, a sharp contrast to the usually congested environment. Large parking spaces that are typically filled by mid-morning were largely empty.
Traders and service providers operating around the Secretariat lamented the slow pace of business, blaming the delayed return of workers and the prevailing economic hardship.
Eleojo Isah, an Okpa seller, attributed the poor patronage to the low turnout of civil servants.
“Workers never really come back on time; that is why the market no dey move. Even before Christmas, sales were poor. Customers are hard to find, and people complain that everything is expensive,” he said in Pidgin English.
A security guard at the Federal Secretariat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the complex had remained unusually quiet for several days.
“Normally by this time everywhere would be full, but there is no turnout. Even the market areas are almost empty. Today is already the 5th, and it should be more than this. By next week Monday, things should return to normal,” he said.
Similarly, a Point-of-Sale (POS) attendant, Bose Aderibigbe, said her daily income had dropped sharply due to low foot traffic.
“By this time of the day, I would have made three times this amount because people withdraw money for transport. Today has been very slow. We are hoping that as the week goes on, more people will resume so business can pick up,” she said.
Further checks at major ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, showed scant vehicular movement as of 11:00am with only a few cars parked within the premises.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, attributed the low turnout to several factors, including the unofficial extension of holidays, transportation challenges, and the high cost of travel following the festive season.
He also cited economic pressures and the rising cost of living as contributing factors, noting that the situation negatively impacts government productivity and delays administrative processes.
“The low turnout raises concerns about discipline and commitment in the public service. It sends a negative signal about efficiency and seriousness in governance and could erode public trust,” Onyekpere said.
He called for stronger supervision by senior officials, enforcement of attendance rules, and improved staff welfare to reduce post-holiday absenteeism.
He also advocated the introduction of digital attendance systems to enhance accountability and punctuality within the civil service.