By Ibrahim Babangida Lawal
In a bid to strengthen agricultural productivity and empower civil servants to contribute directly to food security, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has approved a temporary restructuring of the official work schedule during the 2025 wet farming season.
According to a circular issued by the Permanent Secretary of the General Administration Department, Alhaji Adamu Gambaki, the policy will take effect from July 10 through November 10, 2025, covering both state and local government employees.
Under the new arrangement, civil servants on Grade Levels 01 to 12 will enjoy work-free Thursdays and Fridays, while senior officers on Grade Level 13 and above will close two hours earlier at 2:00 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The measure, however, excludes workers in essential sectors such as health and education, whose services are considered critical and must continue as normal. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been empowered to exercise discretion in identifying key staff required to maintain full operations.
The circular also clarifies that civil servants may be called upon to work as needed, based on the exigencies of duty.
This seasonal policy, the government says, is part of a broader strategic effort to leverage agriculture as a vehicle for poverty reduction, food security, and economic growth in Bauchi State.
Governor Mohammed urged public workers to take full advantage of the new schedule by dedicating their extra hours to productive farming activities, helping to drive the administration’s goals of rural empowerment and agricultural resilience.
Heads of MDAs have been instructed to ensure wide dissemination and strict adherence to the directive.
