July 4, 2013 — CivilServantNG
July 4, 2013 — CivilServantNG
My mornings usually begin at 5am. Yup, 5am at which I decide whether my day starts by 5am or by 9am. Before you wonder at my odd routine, let me confess, I am a civil servant.
Today, my day started by 9am. It was a morning with mixed feelings, dread for what the bosses would throw my way, apprehension for any bad news that might come up, and a growing distaste for the daily bureaucracy I would have to face for the day.
With all these feelings, I entered my car and drove very carefully to work, because in all honesty, I cannot afford to get to the office in anything less than one piece. On a good day, I wouldn’t have even bothered, but mails came in the night before, mails informing me about bureaucracy for today.
1pm came and went, my work is done. I had to make the decision to stay and faff around, or leave. Staying behind to faff around usually brings about discussions of our peers and bosses, both within and without the office; ones who walked the path of corruption or who decided to leave public for private service. People who are living far better lives than us.
Driving home along the streets of Abuja, all I can think of is the past 3 years of my life. 3 years I can almost say are wasted, 3 years that just duty to my country have helped see me through. 3 years of empty promises, salary increases yet undone, trainings still not done, proposals to improve my organization gathering dust and management constantly revising new methods to screw us over — the life of a civil servant.
I would say more but you won’t believe, a job description much better on paper that it can ever be in reality. That is what we do best, give false impressions.
I would complain, but of all my colleagues, I am one of 2 left who still remain unmarried. Life is hard enough without having to think about a wife and kids.
Evening beckons, an evening of alcohol, nkwuobi and fish; it should help make life better. If only for today.
— —
About CivilServantNG: Currently in over his head in a job that looks good on paper but isn’t quite worth any paper. Considering a career in corruption just for the heck for it. Can be found on twitter @civilservantng. Also blogs (http://nigeriancivilservant.wordpress.com)