THE Civil Service may not be paying a fantastic and competitive remuneration, however, job security, retirement benefits, as well as access to power and pecks of office for top-echelons during the peak of their careers are perhaps some of the incentives that have made it a preferred career path for many above employment in the organised private sector.
Even successful individuals in the private sector who desire further power, control , influence or recognition usually seek authority through political control in government to actualize their ambition.
Unlike politician who exercise influence from the outset in government by virtue of their appointment or election, career public servants typically have to rise through the ranks and to acquire institutional authority and influence at the peak of their career.
Taking cognizance of this background information, it, therefore, came as a surprise to many that the Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office and the Accountant General of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, having served the Lagos State Government meritoriously for 27 years has chosen to voluntarily retire from the Lagos State public service with effect from August 31, 2012, at a time he wields a lot of influence and affluence and still has eight more years to hold on to this privileged position of authority and esteem.
Though I have not had the privilege of having a first hand information on the motivation for his early retirement beyond the speculation that he is going back to school to learn and refresh. This has, however, not caught me unawares, knowing him to be a guy that never stands still.
Despite the fact that the public service can make you relax and start growing roots, Mr. Ambode had always been a mobile person, if not physically , but through idea and thoughts.
He started his career in the Local Government Service in 1985 where he rose up to the post of Director, Finance and Supplies before he was appointed in year 2000 as Auditor General for Local Government. Prior to his appointment as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance in 2005, Mr. Ambode was very supportive to me as the editor then of "Lagos State Bureaucrats", in reviving the moribund journal.
He, in fact, contributed an article entitled "Towards Probity and Accountability in the Public Service" in the renewed edition of June 2005, where he raise pertinent issues bordering on accountability and capacity building amongst others.
Walking his talk after his appointment as the Accountant General in 2006, he has put his money where his mouth is through the publication of the annual financial report of the state government in national dailies to enhance probity and accountability. In the same vein, he has made the capacity building and exposure of his staff to professional training, both locally and internationally, a priority during his tenure.
It is on record that internal/employee
relations was strengthened during his tenure with regular interactive sessions and retreats with staff. While some agencies consider working tools such as laptop as a luxury, the Accountant General, beyond the centrally allocated desk tops from the Ministry of Science and Technology, procured lap tops for the staff of the State Treasury Office.
Also, the State Treasury Office under his watch does not only recognise the birthdays of all its staff (both junior and senior), but also presents cakes to them. He also instilled discipline and professionalism amongst accountants and ensured they were always appropriately dressed.
It was Mr. Ambode who pioneered the renovation of the office environment in the public service to wear a topnotch look like that of the private sector, providing a befitting reception, meeting rooms, dining area and an habitable restroom. Also, it was during his tenure that the state government fully achieved the payment of staff salary electronically.
With all these achievements and a promising career still ahead, I believe Mr. Ambode's decision to leave his comfort zone and do something different is unprecedented in the public service and worthy of emulation by all. Truth be told, the public service at the peak of your career is a comfort zone where you feel safe, warm and dry.
Thus without prejudice to other undercurrents beyond going for further studies and other postulation being canvassed such as the possibility of being prepared to assume an higher responsibility in the future, to leave a bird at hand for an uncertain two in the bush, at least for a career civil servant still show courage. After all, we had seen career civil servants who were offered unsecured higher political positions in the past declined such offer.
The lesson and moral from the Accountant General's posture is that we should all try from time to time, to leave our comfort zone and venture into something new that frightens or challenges us.
Mr ABIODUN DINA, a Public Relations practitioner, wrote from Lagos
