Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Monday conducted a surprise inspection of the State Secretariat and found several offices of top government officials locked.

During the surprise visit, the governor also discovered that many senior civil servants were absent from work at about 11 a.m.

The inspection, which was captured in a viral video circulating on social media, showed the governor moving through different ministries, opening office doors and finding many workspaces deserted, with only a few messengers and security personnel on duty.

Confirming the inspection in a statement issued on Tuesday, the governor’s Special Assistant, Garba Muhammad, said the visit formed part of Namadi’s wider statewide oversight tour aimed at improving governance and public service delivery.

According to him, the inspection was designed to assess staff attendance, punctuality and workplace productivity.

“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.

Muhammad added that the exercise reflected the administration’s determination to instil discipline and accountability in the state’s civil service.

“The exercise reflects his administration’s continued drive to promote discipline, accountability, and an efficient public service,” he said.

Following the inspection, the governor travelled to Ringim Local Government Area to sympathise with families affected by the recent boat accident in Malamawar ‘Yan Dutse community.

He participated in funeral prayers for victims whose bodies had been recovered, while search efforts continued for those still missing.

Namadi also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Ringim, where he prayed for the repose of the deceased and comfort for their families.

The governor later inspected ongoing township road projects in Sankara and the Kanya Babba road before proceeding to Kazaure to assess the progress of key infrastructure projects, including hospitals, the Jigawa State Research Institute and the Jigawa State Polytechnic for Communication and Information Technology.

Muhammad said the tour demonstrated Namadi’s commitment to closely monitoring government programmes and accelerating development across the state.

“The tour 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,” the statement added.

Watch the video below