THE CONTRIBUTION OF SECRETARIES TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The role of efficient secretaries in the National Economic Development cannot be over emphasized bearing in mind that secretaries are the image makers of every organization. Secretaries who have acquired the basis educational training coupled with other personal attributes have a lot of channels of attaining the highest level possible in the management of organizations, Allen (1999).

The work and secretaries in an organization are very vital and there is no way an organization can function well without their aid, the fast production of better work is assumed since they are well trained in that field.
Whenever paper work, records and mostly written communication are needed in an organization, the secretaries are likely to be involved.

In as much as secretaries have been undermined by the general public in many ways, their general conception is usually that any employee who sits behind a typewriter and does other forms of secretarial jobs is a secretary thereby regarding them as typists or mere servants.

It is therefore, pertinent to start by knowing who the secretaries are, before going to their immense contribution towards the national economic development with special emphasis on NEPA Auchi District
A secretary according to Hornby (1974) is “an employee in an office, who deals with correspondence, keeps records makes arrangement and appointment for a particular member of the staff. He/she is one who combines the mastery skills of shorthand and typewriting and with a sound knowledge of secretarial duties.
Secretaries have been defined by the national association and secretaries in Unites State of America as an “Executive assistant who possess a mastery of office skills, who demonstrates ability to assume responsibilities without direct supervision, who exercises initiative and judgment, and who makes decision with the scope of assigned authority.

Office skill include, typewriting, shorthand ability to operate photocopy machines duplicating machines etc.
Secretaries are the pictures the models and the area of concentration for the public due to the duties they discharge for the organization they keep and maintain confidential and secret files of the organization and prepare the financial report, handling and imposes account and supervises subordinates to ensure full implementation of the policies of the organization.

From the above definitions secretaries must have gotten all the skills associated with the office and cannot leave responsibilities even though they are not supervised, should work with his initiative and take decision under his assigned authority.

In other words, secretaries are important officer in any organization their contributions and effectiveness can either boost or tarnish the image of any organization.
The impression secretaries create influences public attitude towards the organization just as accountant, engineers and other professional have contributed towards the achievements of the national economic objectives, secretaries have also contributed immensely in different angles in projecting the image of the organization to the outside world. If the public impression portrays the organization in a shabby way, the secretaries help to uplift the image of the organization Monkhood (2011). The way the secretaries receives visitors, their politeness and the respects are added to the status of secretaries as indispensable tools of organization.

In spite of all these roles of secretaries they have been misplaced and neglected to the background, but today we have modern secretaries who now hold managerial and decision making position in the organization and are the office automation is quick developing, the former referred as typist undergoes formal training which enable him to handle more extensive duties and responsibilities in the organization Allen (1999).
The success or failure of some years past have this feeling of inferiority to other professionals simply because they are misunderstood by their bosses. But all these have changed now they are very vital towards the achievement of the national objectives. And also present day executives depends on their secretaries for the smooth and efficient handling of the days activities. Monkhood (2011).