Jigawa Governor Finds Senior Officials Absent, Empty Offices During Surprise Inspection

Jigawa State governor Umar Namadi , carried out a surprise inspection of the state secretariat, discovering that several offices belonging to top government officials remained locked as late as 11 a.m., with many senior civil servants absent from work.

In a viral video, the governor was seen moving through various ministries, where many offices were deserted, with only a handful of messengers and security personnel on duty.

Garba Muhammad, the governor’s Special Assistant, 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 was 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.

“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.”

From Ringim, the governor proceeded to Sankara, where he inspected the ongoing township road network and Kanya Babba road projects, before travelling to Kazaure to assess progress on 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 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.”