By Tosin Yusuf

For everything that has a beginning must surely have an end (to begin is to end). Myself and many others of my colleagues at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment Kwara State may not be privy to the beginning of dear Yusuf LR (the outgoing controller) public carrier, but with the glorious exit he is taking out, no doubts, he started excellently just as he’s bowing out majestically and perfectly.

Our Yusuf L R, who was assumedly born the same year Nigeria became a republic and 3 years after Nigeria got her independent precisely in October 3rd at offa in the then Oyun local government of his state of origin Kwara state. Raufu is a patriotic and productive public officer through out his sojourn in public service.

Like every ordinary indigene of offa whom seeking for knowledge is part of their ancestral traits, the outgoing controller pursued his primary and secondary education at his early stage and further for his higher education till he possessed first degree and masters at the university of Ilorin and joined the service of the nation through the federal ministry of labour, employment and productivity in January 1994.

Talking about Yusuf Layi Raufu with utmost respect and honour I write the name, may make me go emotional, not because he’s a boss, nor a benefactor to all and sundry, but for being an exemplary leader with utmost dedication and loyalty to the service of the nation. He ticks all the boxes of definition of a father, leader and finest gentle man in all ramifications.

I am much delighted that many of my colleagues have perfectly share their thought/views about the personality of Sir. Yusuf L.R in relation to individuals encounter with him and I am excited reading individuals accolades to his person, our Oga is a boss like none.

His promptness to work most time amaze me that I almost loss in thought as to weather ministry of labour is his personal establishment. The promptness in this context is in his punctuality to work. I doubt if we have any staff that resume office earlier before him. This is a perfect example of a good leader exemplified by this patriotic kwaran born personality.

Another attribute of our controller is his passion for productiveness and growth of his staff just as our office name inclined. His habitual meetings, guidance support and encouragement with all the members of staffs on our official duties/work is an attestation to his productiveness in public service and by extension, to his staffs.

Oga’s contentment is worthy of emulation by all and sundry. Considering his status in public service, dear Yusuf L R is a stakeholders not only to the ministry of labour, but a concern stakeholders to all public servants of federal and state government and by extension, the artisans who can leverage on his office to amaze wealth for his personal benefits, but his firm believe in divine sustenance is unassuming.

As we all know, One of the basic and official duties of FML&E is to mediate in the dispute of organized labour and Artisans in line with the established law of the land.

Oga Layi Raufu will delve into dispute between employees and employer to the satisfactory level by the both parties devoid of biasness nor exploit any party to favour them in any form. An MD of an organization affirm this my position when he met our dear retiree’s boss for a mediation role between him and his staffs, at the end, he said to me, Tosin, your Oga knows labour rule and handle our matters perfectly beyond expectations and I gave an affirmative response that dispute settlement and resolution is my Oga’s hobbies.

Another interesting part of Alhaji Layi Raufu who is our outgoing boss is his calmness and act of tolerance.

Oga Layi Raufu is an embodiment of Unity, simplicity, humility, honesty, trustworthy, dedication and devotion to the course of Almighty Allah as this can be trace to his impact on the permanent place of worship in the office that start and completed during his reign.

His unification expertise is what uphold the hundreds of staffs under him with different background, tribe and religions in almost ten years of his controllership, there wasn’t a single record of a religion or ethnicity rancor among the staffs.

Dear boss is a contented man, he is not a greedy person and living within his means.

If our controller’s good attributes were to be analysed, we would write many books without exhausting them. Alhaji Yusuf Layi Raufu is an unbiased boss to everyone in the ministry to the best of my knowledge.

A patient but disciplined person. A thorough and meticulous reader, researcher, preacher, leader and above all a jovial man even at his sixty. He is an upright man.

We have continue to state what we know about our dear boss, which in summary is that Oga exemplified goodness in all ramifications to all and sundry.

The only fault I can say about him is that he is too mild and if that should be regarded as a fault, I believe it is a fault we all should strive to inculcate in our behaviours. His patience confirmed the Yoruba adage that says “suuru o kin poju” there is no limitations to being patient because it pays a lot both in this world and hereafter.

In conclusion, the likes of Yusuf L R is whom we need in our public office for the betterment and greatness of our dear country.

Considering his experience for over three decades of excellent service delivery to the Nigerians, I recommend him for the goodness of our dear state and progress of those he left to public service and artisans of Kwara State that Governor AbdulRahman Abdurasak CON should consider this agile man wealth of experience and appoint him as his Special Adviser on Labour matters. This recommendation can be actualize with the collective actualization efforts of you and I.

Dear dad as I fondly called you, as you coincidentally mark your birthday on this day of your retirement, October 3, 2023, may the years ahead of you be long, productive, prosperous, more fruitful and peaceful. May the goodness and kindness you extended to individuals that come across you be in Manifold on your children and may the Lord Almighty bless whatever you lay your hand upon. Happy birthday and Alhamdulillah on your glorious retirement. It’s our hope that you only retire out of public service, you won’t get tired of being a nice man to mankind.

Yours sincerely

Tosin Yusuf Muhammad