Adesoro Tolu Austen, Special Adviser on Media and Labour to the Clerk to the National Assembly celebrates some notable achievements of his principal
One year ago, precisely on the eve of 17th of July 2020, the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), made a shattering announcement on network news across the electronic media, that sent shock waves to those who did not believe in administrative dynamism and paradigmatic shift in the leadership of the National Assembly. Like wild fire the social media went agog to echo it louder and clearer across the globe that a new sheriff has indeed arrived to take charge of the bureaucratic arm of one of sub Saharan African most populous parliament.
The pronouncement laid to rest the high voltage drama, maneuvers and avoidable power struggle that engulfed the bureaucracy of the National Assembly which many observed with trepidation. It was a defining moment for the NASC as it summoned their nationalistic nature and zeal, conquered parochial interest of few in favour of primary collective interest
But, those who believe in scientific and magical leadership, in running the highest bureaucratic system of the nation’s legislative body, jumped up to celebrate and welcome the official elevation of Ojo Olatunde Amos, to the Acting Clerkship of the National Assembly.
In picking the first ever professional architect to run the affairs of the National Assembly, as the Chief Accounting Officer, the Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi led National Assembly Service Commission, saw something terrific about Ojo Olatunde Amos, which his ardent critics could not fathom. God truly has reason why he created man in different ways for different purposes with divergent gifts which Ojo is not an exemption.
And given the torrents of opposition to the candidature of Ojo Olatunde Amos by those who were determined absolutely to rob and deny him the Clerkship to the National Assembly, his eventual emergence proved the wise saying that: “Any man destined to wear a crown must definitely wear it at the appointed time.”
Apart from the fact that Ojo Olatunde Amos, is a record breaker being the first architect that has succeeded, to the top echelon of the National Assembly, he had been an incredible man of excellence, energy and vision right from his elementary school days. Ojo was created a leader who has never hidden the passion and commitment in distinguishing endowments demonstrated in service with impeccable credentials and decorum.
It was via a onetime dynamic American President, who was an extraordinarily brilliant mind, and passionately patriotic, John Quincy Adams, that we have this endlessly motivated words: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more to do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Perhaps, the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission, had the words of ex-President John Quincy Adams in mind in October 2020, When they resolved to cement the Clerkship of Ojo Olatunde Amos, by making him the substantive Clerk to the National Assembly.
In trying to situate or describe the one year of purposeful, dynamic and inspiring leadership of Ojo Olatunde Amos, in the saddle at the National Assembly, it is right to say that, since July 2020, his actions have inspired his colleagues and staff to dream more, to become more responsive to the challenges confronting the nation’s highest Legislative body.
This fact could be filtered out in the multiple strategies he has initiated in carrying the entire staff of the National Assembly along.
How do l mean? In his proactive handling of the industrial action declared by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) early in the year, an historic Memorandum of Understanding (Mo0U) has been generated, which has brought peace and stability to the National Assembly.
Talking about inspired leadership, coming from Ojo Olatunde Amos, within the first six months of assuming the headship of the National Assembly bureaucracy, he went ahead without any promptings from members of PASAN and legislative aides, to trash out critical outstanding allowances.
Under the watch of Ojo Olatunde Amos, for the first time in the history of the National Assembly bureaucracy, financial loopholes were blocked, via drastic cut in overhead costs, in order to meet up with pressing staff demands.
It must quickly be said that for over 10⁰ years now, the budgetary allocations to the National Assembly has remained static, in spite of the increasing huge administrative cost of running the system.
But, the Clerk to the National Assembly has been up to the task of making things work, given the known financial crunch that has befallen the National Assembly.
Training programmes for the benefit of qualified staff have been going on, the welfare of staff and aides has been a constant issue on the dashboard of the current management.
In order to professionalise and expand the system, the Clerk is putting machineries in place to establish new directorates and departments, so that staff can have proper work schedules.
As a renowned architect with the highest professional honour in Nigeria, Ojo Olatunde Amos is finalising elastic and attractive housing programmes for the benefit of staff; his relationship with PASAN has been very cordial as against the past, as a result of the open door approach and general flexible administrative mechanism in place today.
His dynamism and pragmatism has necessitated the most cordial relationship between him and the political leadership of the National Assembly. What of the extraordinary working relationship he has deliberately established with the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), a great development that has in no small measure contributed to the industrial harmony and peace being enjoyed in the National Assembly today?
Talking about dynamism in leadership, Ojo Olatunde Amos, has imbibed creativity, confidence and pragmatic strategies in piloting the affairs of the National Assembly in the last one year.
Indeed, the staff and legislative aides of the National Assembly have seen renewed strength, genuine ambition, persistence, capacity and behavioral courage in leadership, especially during the last Labour unrest within the National Assembly.
The point being made very clear here, is that Ojo is a man of vision, who knows where he wants to go, and how he will navigate his way to his desired destination. In rainfall, windstorm or sunshine, he stands firm to defend what he believes as right before God, humanity and the society.
No stakeholder within the National Assembly today will say that the sitting Clerk to the National Assembly has not dramatised and practicalised passion, empathy, decisiveness and uncommon optimism in his approach to the health of the National Assembly in the last one year. This has earned him the nick name “Mr. Alert” considering the waves of arrears paid since he assumed duty.
When a great American patriot, John Fuhrman said that:” Once you take action, even if it’s a single, small step, you have set things in motion. ” Architect Ojo Olatunde Amos, who has taken more than a single step in running the bureaucracy of the National Assembly, since July 2020, must be commended for taking drastic actions where necessary; and for setting things in motion for greater harvest soon to come to the staff of the National Assembly.
Given the difficult unprecedented financial challenges cum circumstances, that came to play within the National Assembly, in the last one year, it is clear without any form of ambiguity, that Ojo Olatunde Amos’s sojourn, so far, has been decorated with imaginative, creative, intuitive and responsive leadership.
Adesoro is the Special Adviser on media and Labour to the Clerk to the National Assembly.
