Written By: Sir Edmund Aja Bisong, KSJI.
The position of Secretary of Council in a Local Government is a very strategic one. The Secretary is the engine room of the political wing of the Local Government. He initiates memorandums(memoranda) for Council meetings, he draws out a day to day guide of the Council Chairman’s activities and schedules, he leverages on the activities of the principal officers of council, most of whom are naturally, civil servants not of Boki origin; he equally moderates Executive/Legislative relations to ensure harmony and eliminate friction, amongst other assignments and functions delegated to him by the Chairman. It is first imperative that the Secretary and his Council Chairman must be very close and well bonded for optimal performance and results.
An enlightened and positively assertive Secretary is an asset, both to the Chairman and the Boki people. Choosing who becomes Secretary should, as of necessity, go beyond putting food on the table for a loyal young man/woman who will do some preconceived biddings. Everyday, the Local Council is in a battle of wits and relevance among competing interests, most of whom are alien to the Boki cause. If nothing else, the Secretary should be someone who is man enough to boss the principal officers of the Council, namely, HOLGA, DGSA, DFA and other departmental heads. His control and firm supervision of these principal officers, will free the Chairman and Vice Chairman ample time to dedicate themselves to the task of providing leadership and dividends to the Boki people, especially at these very perilous times. If a Secretary is not confident in his abilities, and does not exude some charisma, and command respect, he will not be able to superintend over key officials of the council and moderate their conduct for the good of the people. The DGSA and DFA who together with the new Chairman are signatories to the Council account are not Boki people, they’re therefore not obliged to work for Boki interest, but the interest that best serves them. A mature, educated, exposed and assertive Secretary will certainly be an asset to the Chairman especially as the Vice Chairman is a product of the Local Govt system and might still owe some measure of loyalty to principal officers who were her superiors. The Chairman, although a gentleman and obviously well-intentioned, equally has limited administrative experience save for the brief stint in Secondary Education Board.
A good Secretary will also ensure harmonious relationship between the Executive and the Legislature and guide both arms to work assiduously for the good of Boki. He should be able to write a good memo which is Boki-friendly, and be someone who is both respectable and respected. If the political gladiators and kingmakers allow other ulterior motives to guide their choice of a Secretary, they may be, unwittingly, handing over the affairs of the Local Government to non-Boki key officials of Council, and the intended dividends may well fritter away. The purpose of having our own sons/daughters in charge of our affairs for our common good would therefore, have been lost. The Secretary is a key and strategic appointment and its selection should involve deep nationalistic considerations, certainly not just food on the table!
Sir Edmund Aja Bisong, KSJI, a concerned Boki son, was a two-time Secretary of Boki Council.
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