Time is such a vital resource. I am one of those who have an unusual knack for the efficient utilization [or investment?] of this resource. I have shared previously how instinctively I want to ‘fix’ any trace of inefficiency I come in contact with – especially with respect to processes. But not without admitting the stress inducing nature of the same. You know what they say about what you detest the most being a sign of your assignment?! Lol.
Perhaps it is on account of this disposition that I am drawn to AGILE? Its underlining and overarching lean philosophy across systems, resources and processes. The very concept of iteration being hinged on an anti-waste ideology and all of these having definite connections to efficiency with time and its effective utilization.
Looking at all of the benefits of Agile, one would wish that every system could run just like it is obtained in an Agile environment. But we know that that is far from being the case!
Indeed the culture of inefficiency and waste across institutions and organizations in Nigeria is common knowledge. I dare say though that the public service carries a larger weight of culpability where this is concerned. For persons like myself, it is hard not to relive prior experiences whenever there’s a prospect of interacting with the civil service environment. Indeed I have been moved to tears a number of times simply observing the normalization of wastage within that space.
Trust me, there are too many stories to recount. I recall an incident where a manager with one of the establishments insisted that we return the following day as we could not obtain what we had come for. Why? There was an error in a document requiring a little rework. By my estimate that error could be fixed in less than two minutes including reprinting time. However in this manager’s world, it was absolutely ok for us to go back a trip of some 30 plus kilometers and then return the next day! We were to expend valuable time and resources to make a repeat visit because of some mistake in a document! Did I mention that the city traffic is hellish? Gosh!!!
The idea that the Nigerian civil service is designed to put illicit money in the pocket of its workers is not lost on me at all. How this is institutionally perpetuated at the expense of tax paying citizens is what will remain a source of wonder for me.
I find that it is rare to walk into any of these establishments without having a contact within. And when that happens it is indeed a pleasant surprise! It is common for this particular contact to have the hallowed responsibility of helping you navigate the difficult system, to navigate the painful bureaucracy and ultimately be your life and time saver! Without him/her, you would be perambulating on the same spot, and in and out of that environment for 3 years instead of just 3 days.
I really hope that someday courageous leaders come to power or emerge as heads of these establishments. Leaders who would defy the odds and allow common efficiency to thrive! The ripple effect will most certainly reflect in our ability to optimize scare resources of time and material but even more importantly it would contribute to reducing our stress levels and overall mental wellness. This vital interconnectedness between efficiency and overall wellness is evidently lost on our dear public servants.
In future posts I will be showcasing the shinning examples within the Nigerian public service. Efficient systems I wish could be replicated on a much wider scale across the country. A phenomenon which for sure would be a life and time saver.
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