Starting tomorrow, Monday 3rd February, government ministries that serve the public will remain open during lunch hours, making services more accessible to citizens who often face long waits.
This was announced by Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke during his first press conference on Thursday.
Most government offices currently close for lunch, frustrating particularly those who travel long distances from rural areas only to find them shut. “Time is important, and when we help save loss of time for people waiting, that helps,” said Eke.
Government offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but midday closures have long caused delays for people needing essential services. “Many times, people wait, and it is not acceptable,” Eke said.
Eke did not provide details on how this will be carried out amongst the ministries.
The government also plans to use technological tools available to improve services and enforce response times. “If policy says that time to respond to a public request should be 30 days or 7 days, then it must be done,” Eke added.
Eke said the goal is to make services more efficient and rebuild trust with the public. “We want to earn people’s trust, which is something that is cultivated over a long period. We’re here to reinforce that,” he said.
