HEAD OF SERVICE RACE: PROFESSOR OLADAPO AFOLABI, A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE?

There is no doubt that Federal Ministry of Education is the only establishment that boasts of two professors as Minister and Permanent Secretary respectively- Professors Ruqayyat Rufai and Oladapo Afolabi. This explains the efficiency at which educational policies are being formulated and implemented in the Ministry today.

Since his transfer from his former duty post to Education ministry, the organization has ceased to be a flash point within. Nigerians have not forgotten the drama that took place in the ministry not very long ago; while the Minister in charge of the establishment then, was busy celebrating “owanbe” party, ASUU strike was threatening to pull down the country; many believed that Professor Oladapo Afolabi’s sound advice on how to bring the strike to an end was not heeded by the minister, hence the protracted but unfortunate strike. The robust relationship between the Minister and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry is said to be possible because of the intellectual background of the duo.

The brief period Professor Afolabi held sway in acting capacity as the Minister, following the removal of the then minister, he gave a very good account of himself to the admiration of all in the ministry. Probably due to his intellectual capacity and the deft manners he handles issues, he had represented the Minister in most official outings, more than others before him in the ministry.

Reports in the Education Ministry indicate that Professor Afolabi has been instrumental to the various capacity building seminars and trainings in the ministry. This, educational pundits say, has impacted positively on the output of workers in the ministry.

As the search for the replacement of the retiring Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye intensifies, one hopes that the tradition of selecting suitable replacement for him is maintained in the service. It has become imperative to warn of the dangers in selecting unqualified person to this prestigious position, in view of the reported lobby for the post by some unqualified people. Good enough, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has demonstrated variously that in terms of making right decisions /appointments when the need arises, and this one-selection of qualified candidate to replace outgoing Steve Oronsaye, as the Head of Service, will not be an exception.

There is no doubt that Professor Afolabi is a round peg in a round hole, with respect to Head of Service job; taking into account those factors consequent upon the appointment. Additionally, he is an accomplished intellectual. I will therefore, not be surprised if Prof. becomes the next Head of Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when the current occupant departs. In a nutshell, Professor Oladapo Afolabi is the next Head of Service; watchers of events in the service have reasoned that since the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had turned down the Oronsaye’s application for extension of time, the President in line with his style of non-interference with rules of the service will allow merit to take its rightful course.

Emeka Oraetoka, an Information Management Consultant& Researcher wrote in from Garki-Abuja. e-mail:oramekllis@lycos.com