Workers and residents of Ondo State have expressed outrage over Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s late announcement of a work-free day ahead of Saturday’s local government elections.
The announcement, made through the Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, came at about 7:00 pm on Thursday, leaving many unprepared for the abrupt suspension of official activities on Friday. The decision was intended to allow workers to travel to their hometowns to participate in the polls.
Criticism poured in from across the state, with many describing the announcement as poorly timed and indicative of a lack of governmental coordination.
One civil servant, Mrs. Bakri, shared her frustration about the disorganized communication. According to her, she and her colleagues waited in their offices until 4:00 pm on Thursday, expecting an official circular regarding the holiday. By the close of office hours, no such notice had been issued.
Mrs. Bakri said she only learned about the holiday from a junior colleague who called her around 8:00 pm. The last-minute declaration disrupted her plans to complete her workload before the weekend.
“My colleagues and I assumed work would hold as usual today because no official notice came during office hours. By the time I got home, the governor’s announcement was released, telling us to travel for the election. Does he expect me to wake up on Friday and head straight to Idoani after such late notice?” she said, expressing her disappointment.
In a related incident, Seyi Adu, a parent, voiced her displeasure after driving her son to school on Friday morning, only to find it closed. Teachers at the gate informed her that the school had shut down due to the unexpected holiday.
“I wasn’t even aware the election was on Saturday. It’s frustrating to drive from Ijapo to Aule Road, only to turn back because of this impromptu decision,” Adu lamented.
The criticism highlights widespread frustration among workers and residents, with many urging Governor Aiyedatiwa to improve his administration’s communication and planning strategies. The late holiday declaration has sparked concerns about the efficiency of governance and its impact on public trust.
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