According to a document produced after the symposium of Nigeria Governors’ Forum in 2011, the duties of a Chief of Staff to the Governor includes the following:
1. Chief Operating Officer;
2. Office Manager;
3. Chief Strategist;
4. Policy Advisor;
5. Gubernatorial Vicar;
6. Guardian of the Palace;
7. Headhunter;
8. Crisis Coordinator; and
9. Personal Confidant.
Limiting the functions of a chief of staff also known as Principal Secretary to the above listed roles, it’s pertinent to note the position can’t be given to just any person.
This could explain why the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah is taking his time to appoint his Chief of Staff almost three weeks after assuming office. While the consultations, Investigations and possibly lobbying are going on, Ndi Enugu expects nothing but a clear departure from the norm, because during his campaigns, he promised that it’s going to be “business unusual” and in many other fora, he promised to do things differently.
Governor Mbah, a former chief of staff himself understands the role of a Chief of Staff better and the enormous power he wields.
However, its pertinent that we point out that Enugu doesn’t need a politician as a chief of staff at this point in her history. Over the years, the position has been used to wield unnecessary influence and creating demigods in the system.
If Mbah must deliver on his promise of growing Enugu GDP from the current $4.4b to $30b, he needs someone without political leaning or political ambition. This will remove unnecessary bottlenecks up to 75%. While the person should be politically savvy, he should be a technocrat with proven record of service delivery.
Someone in the mould of the Secretary to the State Government will suffix. Mbah doesn’t need someone that will use the office to advance his/her personal ambition not minding how it will affect the state in general. In some government Houses, letters go missing because the Chief of Staff has a score to settle with the writer or because the issue addressed in the letter doesn’t suit his/her interest.
Role number 8 as stated above is so important that the Chief of Staff must be cool headed, as objective as possible and an easy going person. Enugu doesn’t need anyone that will put his interest or that of his family or associates first in looking into communal crisis which is bedeviling the state in recent time.
Lastly, role number 9 makes it more than necessary that the Governor must appoint who he must trust with his own life, possibly, someone he has had a personal dealing in the past with or someone he has seen from a very close range. Mbah can’t afford to have a cantankerous fellow as his confidant or someone that will use the government secret to curry favour.
The Governor’s confidant must be as objective, transparent and honest as possible. This is someone that must be bold to tell him the home truth in their private time. He must be his friend that will remove the toga of “His Excellency” while addressing him.
This is another opportunity Mbah has to prove to Ndi Enugu that the maxim “Tomorrow Is Here” isn’t just poetry and campaign line. We need to see this tomorrow reflected in this all important appointment. Examples abound of so many Governors their administration was almost brought on its knees by overbearing and political Chief of Staff.
