So much has happened in the last couple of weeks and Nigerians really need to step away from themselves and introspect. As the year comes to an end we do really need to reflect.
Having been in the civil service for nearly 35 years, I understand what it means to be passed up for promotion multiple times in spite of how hard one works or how qualified one is. I have been led in the main by a lot of people who have nothing on me either because they know someone or because they know someone who knows someone. And yeah, that part where the girl winks at the boss and gets promoted ahead of you still subsists in some parts.
Also that guy who does not even do anything still gets promoted ahead of you. The one who is a perpetual late comer, who adds three weeks to her leave, the one who comes to spend hours eating with the boss while you do the donkey work still gets promoted ahead of you. Your only crime is that you do your honest to God work in the best possible way.
My elder sister Architect Mrs Alozie just retired from the Federal Ministry of works as Head Public private partnership and I occasionally hear her relating some of the stories that track the life of a hard worker but God always prevails. Not one to complain, she has bowed out graciously and I am thankful for her life and the opportunities the civil service gave her to serve her country and her community.
One of those who spoke at her send forth in her office, thanked her for retiring as at when due and allowing other people step into her shoes. When he said that I laughed in Chinese because I know exactly what he is talking about. Today the service is littered with persons who do not believe they should leave it even after they have attained 60 years or the mandatory 35 years of service. They reduce their age and sometimes become 10 years younger thereby blocking the path of others who ought to take their position. They hold onto their positions and refuse to leave. This is a travesty and fraud. Across the board we see men and women who say they are 50 years but their real age is 63 and they are unable to take the pressure and the stress and cannot even go up the staircase anymore without looking like they are about to pass out.
This finger pointing which has become a national malaise has to stop before we can get Nigeria working again.
The story is told of a Director in one of the Parastatals who went on a trip abroad and took ill. Over there your vital signs and a quick medical check will immediately determine your age. So the Doctors out there were fairly befuddled by his age which was certainly younger than what he presented. Sadly, he had to confess to his crime and unfortunately did not make it back home. What do we achieve when we cook the books? This type of behaviour eating up our Public service is what is killing our otherwise Public institutions and dampening the
moral of our best staff.
So you decreased your age and stood in the way and yet you are suffering mental and physical diminishing return. How can the civil service grow? When we talk about corruption, this is one of the many ways in which by their very hands the older generation shoots the younger ones in the foot. This is what can make a young person very angry and a hardworking civil servant mad as hell. Oga, madam, please retire as at when due so we can also rise up. Some of our finest minds leave the public service because of these kinds of inequalities and untoward behaviour.
That being said, it is amazing how we are quick to point at other people and other things which is why Nigeria is where it is. I think we need to think carefully, so much goes on in our society that requires deep thinking.
Some of our security operatives that have lost their way have been encouraged in several instances by money bags and politicians whose bidding they are doing. Nigerians and ordinary civilians are now able to buy anything including sadly security architecture meant to protect us all. If I cannot afford it, it will seem I may not be adequately protected and the constitution says I have a right to be protected by the state.
While we are at it remember that impunity in Nigeria is not in only one sector and it also involves religious institutions sadly. We have almost become immune to doing the right thing and anyone who tries is considered a “mumu”. By the way this impunity is perpetrated by young and old. Do not be deceived that it is domiciled in one generation. It is time we see SARS as a metaphor for all that is wrong with our country and what our contributions are to doing Nigeria in. From leadership to followership, from the served to the server. Let us also
remember that if we all fix our end of things; Nigeria will be better. It is not one person’s responsibility. It is our collective duty.
This finger pointing which has become a national malaise has to stop before we can get Nigeria working again. Step back. Yes… you. What are you contributing to our National shame? We are famous for finger pointing. Everything is another person’s fault and you cannot see yours. Let us “Endsars” as it relates to cutting corners, bribery before anything is done, sorting in our universities, exam malpractices, driving against traffic, robbing Peter to pay Paul, nepotism, favouritism, rape, gender based violence and everything in
between. Let merit speak. Let “man know man” take a back burner. Let us show empathy, be our brother’s keeper and mean well for citizens, no matter which leadership position you hold even as Head cleaner. I teach “What it takes to be a CEO” at the Africa centre for leadership and strategy, (Centre LSD) and I have been teaching this course for nearly 10 years. Most participants think erroneously that leadership is only at the top. Remember the parents in a home are also leaders.
No one is perfect but we can all commit to making Nigeria better, one Nigerian at a time.
