Yesterday there was a tanker a explosion that gutted
many with severe burns and left 87 others dead. There were other more serious
issues in Nigeria that craved attention yet it was the news that Dame Patience
Jonathan, first lady and wife of President Goodluck Jonathan had become Permanent
Secretary to the Bayelsa state government that became the talk everywhere.
She will serve in absentia said the spokesman of the first
lady Mr. Osinlu. She will also not get paid for the position. Before now, Dame
Patience Jonathan had been civil servant with Bayelsa State ministry of
education. Her elevation to deputy first lady as wife of the deputy governor
prevented her from continuing in the service. Somehow, the Bayelsa governor
found it wise to appoint her a permanent secretary.
Only a few weeks ago, her husband’s spokesman Dr.
Abati had insisted the president can run the country from anywhere. He argued
that with advances in technology, that it was possible for the president to
rule from Brazil where he was attending the Earth Summit of the UN amidst the
Boko Haram onslaught in Kaduna and Yobe states.
Perhaps, Patience Jonathan has acquired some of that technology
and will run her office from Abuja with it. The first lady is famed for making
statements that leave comedians envious of her choice of words but this latest
job is one which many are yet to understand the reason behind.
Mr. Seriake Dickson must have some calculation that
cannot be computed using the N100 roadside calculator. To understand this
appointment, you need a Seriake/Goodluck model analysis tool which amongst
other things will show in a matter of time what exactly will be achieved by the
appointment.
Does one get a leave of absence for 13 years? Since
when did governors begin appointing seating first ladies permanent secretaries?
Something is curiously right with the title and the appointment. According to
her spokesperson, Mrs Jonathan will not be performing the job on site. Who gets
appointed to do a job as serious as a permanent secretary in absentia? The title
of the job says: ‘permanent’ but Mrs. Jonathan will be doing her job from Abuja
perhaps by remote control.
On a more serious note, jobs of permanent secretaries
are positions reserved for senior career civil servants who have risen through
the rank and file of that service and have gained the requisite expertise to
provide policy advice when called upon. Perhaps, there is need to invent a new
permanent secretary in Bayelsa state civil service, a ceremonial permanent secretary
that will offer no service whatsoever and when called upon for serious issues
will do so by remote control.
Nigeria is one hilarious reality TV show playing live every
day. While we pray for peaceful repose of the dead in Rivers state neighbour to
Bayelsa state, we wait patiently to see exactly what this appointment of a ceremonial
permanent secretary will achieve. Stay tuned and don’t touch that remote on the
channel called Nigeria.
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