Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, has advised civil servants to water down their political affiliations at work place and serve the country with clean hearts to increase productivity.

He said it has become a norm for civil servants to openly show their political affiliations at their work places, which contravenes the civil service act and expressed the importance of neutrality to bring about the needed development in the country.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru gave the advice during a working visit to the Tatale-Sangule, Gushiegu, Mamprugu-Moaduri, Tolon and the Kunbumgu districts to acquaint himself with the progress of work and development in those areas.

He said even though the 1992 Constitution gives everyone the right of association it is wrong for civil servants to indulge in partisan politics at work place saying: “If you want to engage in partisan politics just resign before you are sacked.”

The minister who addressed staff of the various assemblies he visited said absenteeism and unprofessional conduct are what he detest as a minister and advised workers to report to work on time and close at the appropriate time so as to increase productivity.

He condemned the practice where some workers live in the regional capital, Tamale and trek to work late every day saying: “You have no excuse to stay in Tamale and report to work late,” with the excuse that you have no accommodation.

“It is not mandatory for government to provide you with accommodation. In Accra some workers live in Dodowa, Tema, Kasoa, Sakumono and other faraway places but they report to work on time at the ministries so those of you in the regions should not have preferential treatment,” he added.

On chieftaincy conflicts in the region, Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru appealed to chiefs and kingmakers to use the right channels to choose and enskin chiefs to avert squabbles and conflicts saying: “We in the north already lag behind in development and we must live upright lives to ensure the needed development for our children.”

He said government would do its best to ensure equitable development in the country and expressed the need for lasting peace to return to the entire north for government to be able to push for balanced development to improve lives.

Chiefs in all the districts the minister visited commended government for the massive infrastructure development especially the road network improvement, expansion of electricity and construction of educational and health facilities but appealed for more projects.