The career success story of retired seasoned civil servant and former permanent secretary in Lagos State, Otunba Fatai Olajide Olugoka, which spanned over two decades can easily be summarized by the quote that success is the result of perfection, hardwork, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.
Going down memory lane, Otunba Olukoga shared his civil service career experience, while featuring on Ikorodu Oga Radio’s Ikorodu Division Icon show. The vastly experienced former civil servant, revealed that he was sacked from the ITT Nigeria Limited in 1979 as an Assistant Manager, Staff Development (Overseas), due to bitter politics between the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), because at the time, his Uncle, the late Alokolaro was the UPN Chairman in Ikorodu, while his employer and Chairman of ITT; the late Chief MKO Abiola belonged to the National Party of Nigeria, NPN.
According to Otunba Olukoga, after his sack and that of twenty other top Executive Managers of the company, the matter became a national issue and was widely reported in the national dailies. Fate however brought him in contact with the late sage and Premier of the Western Region; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who gave him and others, letters of recommendation for employment into the Civil Service across the western region states.
While speaking on his achievements while in active service in the state where he served in various capacities, and in different ministries and departments, Dr Olukoga disclosed that his first major task was the commercialisation of the activities of the defunct Lagos State Refuse Disposal Agency, now known as LAWMA, which he did successfully by increasing its monthly revenue from #5million to #22 million, within one month.
Speaking further, the former Chairman, Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS), said much later, he was posted to Ojo Local Government Area, under the military, as Chairman, achieving a monthly revenue increment of additional #3million, from which salaries of the Local Government employees are paid, even before the monthly state subvention was received.
