Oyebanji: Retired civil servants are pillars of governance and stability

Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji has hailed the civil service as the engine room of effective governance and sustainable development, describing it as indispensable to any government.

Opening the 12th Regional Quarterly Meeting of the South West Association of Retired Service Chiefs and Permanent Secretaries in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Oyebanji noted that members of the association have contributed immensely to the growth and stability of the civil service and have left legacies of leadership, professionalism, integrity and institutional knowledge.

He credited their professionalism, integrity and rich experience with leaving a lasting foundation for the region’s public sector.

Oyebanji, who spoke through the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that through the invaluable wealth of experience of retired bureaucrats, his administration has appointed three members into the State Executive Council, one of whom is the immediate past HoS as Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi.

“It is not out of place to note that political leaders continue to attract members from this strategic group. I am sure to have no less than three of your members in my Executive Council.

“I am courageous in saying that the current administration is committed to easing the retired lives of the service chief, permanent secretaries and civil servants in general,” he said.

The regional president of the association, Demola Badejo, reiterated the body’s commitment to strategic partnership with regional bodies – South West Development Commission, DAWN Commission and Odu’a Investment Company Ltd after his recent meeting with them in Ibadan.

He sought the support of state headquarters for the implementation of the seven-point agenda of the association due to its relevance and overall development of the region.

Badejo, a lawyer and former president of Ogun NUJ, announced that the “Odu’a House” initiative modeled after Chatham House in London which he said he visited about three weeks ago for possible collaboration, will begin fielding candidates for the 2027 elections at the Lagos Airport Hotel in the coming weeks.

“Our task is not simply to celebrate our past, but also to use our collective experience, knowledge and networks to guide future generations and contribute significantly to the development of the region and the country at large.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter, Chief Oluwole Ariyomo, commended Oyebanji for his support to the chapter, while acknowledging his impressive record of infrastructure development, including roads, youth employment, agriculture and the reconstruction of the Ikogosi Warm Springs tourism site to an international standard.

In his keynote address, SO Bankole, former Chief of Service, who spoke on the “Doctrine of Neutrality (Impartiality) and Anonymity”, said civil servants should not participate in politics either covertly or openly, warning that their participation would also affect and diminish the quality of advice given to the political leadership.

“Our bureaucracy should maintain its ascription of neutrality under any political dispensation.

“The truly loyal public officials are the ones who tell politicians what they should know and not what they want to hear,” he said.

The one-day conference was attended by delegates from Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ondo states.