CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYBefore the 9th century secretarial profession and office work were generally occupied by males. Women joined office work in early 19th century only as secretarial personnel. In those days secretarial personnel were referred to as “typewriter” rather than machine they used but typist is the actual name suppose to be given to secretarial personnel. But then the profession basically meant the ability to operate typewriter and write shorthand. Inevitably the secretary employee hired and fired at random. That is why in the case of Barret Hares and company is south London tramways (1887) the learned judge lord Esther held that “a secretary is a mere servant, her position is that she is to do what she is told to do and no person can ensure that she has any authority to represent anything at all”.Psychoanalyst in their own study suggested that women are perceived as lacking what it takes to be a man. Likewise, secretaries are described as lacking the qualities that makes a successful boss. This impression humiliates the value of secretarial work and makes it reluctant to acknowledge secretarial profession as part of management.The job of the secretary has been that of struggling to gain steady improvement and recognition. This was proved in landmark case of 1971 in Paranoma development limited us. Fidelis furnishing fabrics where lord Denning held that “timer has changes” A secretary in much more important person today than she was in 1887, she in an administrative officer of the company in matter concerning administrative officers of the company. In judgment, the secretary has extensible authority to sign contracts on behalf of the company.The importance of a secretary in an organization was further revealed in many write ups. According to Azuka (1990) the word “secretary” is coined form the Latine word “Secretes” perhaps it is in fact that aspect of the work of a secretary that involves keeping secrets that is why secretaries are been regarded as the person who maintains a high standard of confidentiality and serves as a repository information.The national secretaries association (united state of America) defines a secretary as an assistant to an executive possessing mastery of office skills and ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, who displays initiative exercise judgment and takes decision within the scope of her authority. There is therefore no doubt in the fact that the secretary is a wheel on which the executive activities revolve. She if often referred to as executive alter ego. Her effectiveness can either enhance or reduce the efficiency of the organization.The Nigerian Association of Business Education (NABE) sees the secretary as a person who is skillful in office administration office information management reception stenographic duties and in the management of human resources of the office towards the achievement of organizational goal.

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