GOVERNMENT WORK

GOVERNMENT WORK

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,

‘Take your time, my friend

Don't stress yourself.
Relax,
This is government work.'