It’s 6:00am
and my excited body was very eager to get to work.
This was my
first job after graduation from the university.
I was in
cloud nine
Because I’ll be
working with the government.
This
automatically means
That I’ll also be placed on the single spine
salary structure.
What a happy
morning it was!
7:00am on the
dot, I was right before my new office.
Sharply
adorned in my white shirt and navy-blue flying tie
Over a pair
of black trousers and a well-dusted black mirror shoe.
The doors
were under lock and key
And there was
no sign of activity.
I stood
before the office till 8:00am.
An elderly
man in his sixties came from nowhere to open the place up.
Though he was
the security officer
Nothing on
him suggested he was.
He was in red
bathroom slippers and a long black gown.
I was quite
puzzled as to why he would open the place up that late
So I opted to
inquire from him,
‘What time do
you normally open up the office, please?’ I asked.
He looked at
me in disbelief and answered with great reluctance,
‘You’re new
here right?
Don’t worry,
all the others started just like you.
Very soon
you’ll stop asking these useless questions.’
What a
welcome it was!
I was given
my first assignment right after being introduced to everyone.
In less than
two hours,
I was done
and dusted with my duty and very pleased with myself.
Surprisingly,every other
person in the office appeared unhappy with me.
An elderly
man walked straight up to my desk and calmly said to me,
‘My friend,
take your time.
This is not
how to do government work.
The
assignment you completed in two hours
Should have
taken a minimum of two weeks to finish.
You’re new
and young.
Very soon
you’ll understand how the system works.
This is the
civil service.
It is
government work, not your work.’
Wow!
A few minutes
later,
My supervisor asked me to buy him roasted
plantain and groundnuts.
I got back to
meet him busily going through some lotto papers.
I went to
pick up documents from the secretary
And guess
what, she was chatting on phone while playing 'zuma'.
Hmmm…!!!
The director left the office before 12noon.
Some other senior
workers went for break and never got back.
As at 3:00pm,
The number of
workers left in the office including myself was six.
Two were
playing scrabble,
One was
watching a movie.
The only
senior officer around was listening to a programme on Obonu Fm,
While the last
was polishing her face for a date at 3:15pm.
I decided to
leave the office at 4:30pm
Since I was the only one left by then.
I stepped out
and behold, an angry security man awaited me at the gate.
He starred at
me in annoyance and asked,
‘Young
man,why?
This is
government job, not your job.
The director
has even closed long ago.
Please try
and finish your work early next time
Else I’ll be
late for prayers’
Frustration then
began setting in.
The next day,
I told one of the senior workers of my aspirations.
I told him of
how I wanted to make a conspicuous impact with my career,
And how I wanted to give my best to my employer.
He realized
the frustration in my voice,
And with an irritating smile,
He patted me on the shoulder and said,
He patted me on the shoulder and said,
‘Take your
time, my friend
Don't stress yourself.
Relax,
This is government work.'
Relax,
This is government work.'
