There have been a tug of war between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government on issues relating to the minimum wage for some few weeks now, and was later compounded by the industrial strike action that almost grounded economic activities across the nation. While I am in full support of a ‘living wage’, I believe that there is something more sinister than the issue of minimum wage and it is the deplorable work ethics among civil servants in the nation.
It is unproductive to ask for a minimum wage of like a hundred thousand naira without the Nigeria Labour Congress having any concrete plan to upgrade the work ethics of civil servants in the nation. It is a waste of national resources when civil servants are being paid for the quality of work that doesn’t in any way commensurate with their inputs.
I have observed over the years that most retired civil servants find it very hard to metamorphose to entrepreneurs in the private sector because the work ethic in the civil service cannot in any way sustain their new found passion. This is a very hard truth to swallow but if our desire is to nurture a million dollar dream, we must do more than a minimum wage work ethic!
The discussion must not just end with increase in wage but also an intentional decision to improve on our work ethic as civil servants. We must harp on the issue of capacity development for civil servants. We must redesign a robust and productive civil service where civil servants have what they are really bringing to the table and not just occupying space and idling away in the office.
The rich and the poor differ in their work ethics. Tyler Perry said, “Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you’re a janitor or taking your first summer job, because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life”. One of the things that has actually deteriorated Africa is the deplorable work ethics in the civil service. I have observed many toxic work ethics in the civil service that had become inimical to our growth in Africa. You see many government workers coming late to work and most times are also the first set of people to leave work very early. The few times you see some of them going extra mile, it is actually for eye-service or just for show. Though, we still have few that are outrightly dedicated and hardworking, it has actually become apparently difficult to see a civil servant going the extra mile in their responsibilities.
For a country to develop, we need civil servants with the extra mile habit, who do not need to the bribed to do what they are ordinarily supposed to do. People who will go extra mile, not waiting for their palms to be ‘rubbed’. We must never stop doing our best just because someone doesn’t give us credit.
Azuh Arinze once said, “Would you like to get to the peak of your career? Then, always go the extra mile. Do more than you are being paid for; give them more than they are asking you for – especially if you are still an employee”. Perform at the highest level all the time even when nobody is watching. If you are a writer, write at the highest level possible; if you are a teacher, teach at the highest level possible; if you play musical instruments, play at the highest level possible; if you are a musician, sing at the highest level possible! There is no traffic at the extra mile and that is where you will be most visible. Whatever you do, never do it shabbily; always put in your best in whatever you do.
Billionaires are the 1 percent of people that will do what 99 percent of us avoid; they are also the 1 percent of people who tolerate what 99 percent of us are irritated with. There are some people that are satisfied with doing barest minimum, they always find it difficult to give 100%. If you won’t do it for your employer, do it for yourself. The work ethic you develop is yours to take wherever you go. Christine Brown said, “Do the kind of job that if at the end of the day, your employer had to pay you what you were worth, they couldn’t afford to keep you, rather than for you to owe them”.
Finally, I will like to reach out to all the youths and graduate out there in the words of Jack Johnson: “Going far beyond that call of duty, doing more than others expect, this is what excellence is all about. And it comes from striving, maintaining the highest standards, looking after the smallest detail, and going the extra mile. Excellence means doing your very best. In everything. In every way”. The world’s greatest teacher said in Matthew 5:41(NKJV), “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two”. So going the extra mile is not just a suggestion or an advice, it is a commandment! Whether in relationship, business, career or ministry, going the extra mile will always give you a competitive advantage. Gary Ryan Blair said, “Going the extra mile is one true way to add significant, lasting, and memorable value to your customers, and could very well be your most important competitive strength.”
T.S. Eliot said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” Only those who go extra mile can find out how far they can go in life. We need renewed thinking youths whose ways of thinking are different from the generic way of thinking. Youths that will bring back the lost glory of civil service in the nation. Instead of graduates looking around for jobs, we need graduates with renewed thinking minds that will look inward for their gifts, talents and unique abilities and then look outward for the problems they can solve in their communities.
