By NASIRU MUHAMMAD

Investigation by Daily Triumph has indicated that in most of the places visited last Friday, the exercise was not holding as most workers went about their normal office businesses or in some places were even absent.

At the ministry of commerce for instance, Daily Triumph observed that most of the staff were absent as they were said to have undertaken the exercise a day earlier, to enable them travel to Kaduna in connection with the International Trade Fair which took off last week. While at the health ministry, only few members of the junior cadre were seen partaking in the exercise.

As for the ministry of land and physical planning as well as that of information and KASEPPA the story was the same.

Our correspondent reports that there were no senior officials of the land ministry to comment on the exercise, while at information ministry, some staff even expressed surprise that the exercise was still being enforced.

Most ironical however, is the ministry of environment, where the exercise was also not holding and the commissioner was not available to comment. However, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Hajiya Salamatu Garba told Daily Triumph that such attitude of shying away from the directive must change.

“Of course, we notice that most of the workers are not participating which is worrisome, but we have been publishing announcing the exercise in the media, but honestly the monthly sanitation exercise is in our heart,” she said.

While at the Board of Internal Revenue, the exercise was also not holding, and the chairman was said to have gone to the airport to receive a visitor from Abuja, whereas, Daily Triumph observed that both the staff and managing director of Rural Electrification Board (REB), Engr. Ali Muhammad Wudil were visibly seen partaking in the exercise.

Commenting, Engr. Wudil told Daily Triumph that they were complying with the directive, noting that even Islam emphasizes on cleanliness, and urged all ministries and government departments to comply with the directive.

Some concerned citizens who spoke to Daily Triumph advised government to either take serious action against erring ministries in future or cancel the exercise.