GOVERNOR Umar Namadi of Jigawa State on Monday carried out a surprise inspection of the state secretariat, where he discovered that several offices occupied by top government officials remained locked as of 11 a.m., with many senior civil servants absent from their duty posts.
News Point Nigeria reports that, in a viral video circulating online, the governor was seen moving swiftly between ministries and departments, only to find many offices deserted, with a few messengers and security personnel present.
Garba Muhammad, Special Assistant to the governor, confirmed the inspection in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing it as part of Namadi’s broader statewide oversight activities.
According to Muhammad, the visit to the state secretariat formed part of the governor’s “comprehensive statewide tour that combined administrative oversight, humanitarian engagements, and infrastructure inspection, reinforcing his hands-on approach to governance”.
“The day’s activities commenced with an unannounced visit to the Jigawa State Secretariat Complex in Dutse, where the Governor monitored staff attendance, punctuality, and workplace productivity,” the statement read.
“The exercise reflects his administration’s continued drive to promote discipline, accountability, and an efficient public service.”
Muhammad added that, after the inspection of the secretariat, Governor Namadi proceeded to Ringim Local Government Area to sympathise with families affected by the tragic boat accident in Malamawar ‘Yan Dutse community.
“The Governor subsequently travelled to Ringim Local Government Area to commiserate with families affected by the devastating boat accident at Malamawar ‘Yan Dutse community.
“He participated in the funeral prayers for the victims whose bodies had been recovered, while search operations continued for those still missing.
“Governor Namadi also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Ringim, praying for Allah’s mercy upon the deceased and strength for the bereaved families,” the statement added.
From Ringim, the governor visited Sankara to inspect the ongoing township road network and Kanya Babba road projects.
He thereafter proceeded to Kazaure, where he assessed the progress of major infrastructure projects, including hospitals, the Jigawa State Research Institute, and the Jigawa State Polytechnic for Communication and Information Technology.
Muhammad said the statewide tour underscored Governor Namadi’s determination to maintain close supervision of government programmes, improve public service delivery and accelerate the execution of development projects across the state.
According to him, the inspection exercise “demonstrated Governor Namadi’s commitment to maintaining close supervision of government programmes, improving public service delivery, and accelerating the implementation of developmental projects that advance the vision of a Greater Jigawa.”