When, recently, the Honourable Minister of Interior, HM Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo met with officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), he specifically made a request to the entire workforce. Prior to the day he met with the staff, he had his job cut out for him. He had his Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as entrenched in the Ministerial Performance Bond signed by all ministers well spelt out. He knew the onerous task ahead of him. He knew the Nigeria’s situation is akin to the Biblical Egypt of old, where everything was topsy-turvy, and the Israelites were at the crossroads, waiting for a bushranger that would beckon hope of light at the end of the tunnel. A man who would lead the path to their fortuity. A man who could change their forlornness and despondency. A man celestially directed to bring succour. It is in the light of his commitment to service delivery that he would therefore ask for Aarons that would help his Moses, like the Aaron of old helped his brother, Moses deliver the Israelites to the promised land.
Hon. Tunji-Ojo has since swung into action, breaking shackles across agencies, scoring landmark milestones that hitherto were thought never possible in the current day Nigeria. For the man who has come to be monikered (sic) the ‘Poster Boy’ of the Renewed Hope administration, e no dey look any Uche face, using the street slang. Better still, e no dey gree for anybody when it comes doing what would make life easier for Nigerians and would project the agenda of his employer, his principal – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as a leader who truly means what he says, and says what he means. Mr. President says his administration is poised to rework Nigeria for Nigerians. That his administration would not erect the country’s national home on a foundation of mud. So, for Hon. Tunji-Ojo, it is not time to engage in frivolities. Neither is it time to engage in needless politicking. Rather, it is time for business “unusual”. It is time to roll up the sleeves and do that which he was appointed to do.
Truth is that the Honourable Minister has left no one in doubt of his capacity and competence. At least this can be attested to by the torrent of accolades from Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora on the many successes the Ministry of Interior has recorded since coming on board of Hon. (Dr.) Oulbunmi Tunji-Ojo. He has repeatedly asked that the civil servants, majority on whose shoulders lie the reform agenda of Mr. President, and by extension, the Honourable Minister to be his change agents. He knows no matter how lofty his ideas were, regardless of the benefits his programmes portend for the Nigerian populace, he needed the buy in of those who would implement such reform (s) as the case may be. That was why, his request to the civil servants at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and by extension all agencies under his Ministry to be his ‘Aarons’ while he leads from the front like the Biblical Moses, is fundamentally germane to the Renewed Hope agenda of the current administration. It was why he asked that everyone unite, not only to give hope to the hopeless, but also protect the hope and future of the country.
Of course, the Honourable Minister did not just ask that the civil servants to be his Aarons to lead Nigeria out of her current quagmires, he knew the Heavenly Creator provided the old Aaron the requisite resources sine qua non to help simplify the herculean task given to the old Moses. He knew the job of changing the country would be challenging. He knew the civil servants under his ascendancy deserve a working environment, conducive enough in remuneration, conducive enough in personal prospects and conducive enough with an assuring future. Hence, his recent decision to promote civil servants who were long overdue for promotion while working on improved salary structure for workers that is commensurate with other sister agencies in line with extant provisos of the constitution. He wants to see synergy among all agencies of government working towards same goal congruence – accentuating the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He wants to see collaboration because he believes the solution to the country’s quandaries must be all-encompassing, all-round and total quality.
The big question going forward will then be, ‘Who is ready to be the Aaron?’ Who among the civil servants as we have them today is ready to be Aaron that would assist the Moses of Tunji-Ojo? Who shares in his vision of a new Nigeria where there would be NO sabotage of the passport acquisition or renewal process? Who would share in his vision of a Nigeria where our territorial borders would not be compromised on the altar of ethnic and tribal parochialism? Who shares in his vision of a new Federal Fire Service (FFS), a new Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), a new Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a new Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCC)? Who is with the Minister to ensure the entire system is not compromised for pecuniary benefits? Nigeria is, indeed, akin to the Egypt of old. She is desirous of a change maker who will guarantee a working Nigeria for generations yet unborn. Who is that civil servant who will be the Aaron to Honourable Minister Tunji-Ojo’s Moses in his efforts at retooling Nigeria for Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope mandate?
Are you willing, Mr/Mrs/Ms Civil Servant?
OMOGBOLAHAN L.A. BABAWALE
Public Affairs Analyst
Convener/Lead Resource Person
The Think-Tinubu Initiative (3TI)
[email protected]/[email protected]