Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji has hailed 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 Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the Southwest in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Oyebanji noted that the members of the association have contributed immensely to the growth and stability of public administration and have left behind legacies of leadership, professionalism, integrity and institutional knowledge.
He credited their professionalism, integrity and rich experience with leaving a durable foundation for the region’s public sector.
Oyebanji, who spoke through the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that because of the invaluable wealth of experience of the retired bureaucrats, his administration has appointed three members into the state Executive Council, one of who is the immediate past HoS as the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi.
“It is not out of place to note that political leaders continue to draw members from this strategic group. I’m sure I have not less than three of your members into my Executive Council.
“I’m bold to mention that the present administration is committed to ease life at retirement from the Head of Service, permanent secretaries and the public servants at large,” he said.
The Regional President of the association, Demola Badejo, restated the commitment of the body to the strategic partnership with the regional bodies – South West Development Commission, DAWN Commission and Odu’a Investment Company Ltd following his recent meeting with them in Ibadan.
He called for support from state chapters for the implementation of the association’s seven-point agenda for its relevance and the overall development of the region.
Badejo, a lawyer and former chairman of Ogun NUJ, announced that the”Odu’a House” initiative modelled after London’s Chatham House which he said he visited about three weeks ago for possible collaboration, will start featuring candidates for the 2027 elections at the Lagos Airport Hotel in next few weeks.
“Our task is not merely to celebrate our past, it is also to use our collective experience, knowledge and networks to mentor future generations and contribute meaningfully to the development of the region and the country at large.
In his address of welcome, Ekiti State chapter President, Chief Oluwole Ariyomo, lauded Oyebanji for his support for the chapter while acknowledging his impressive record of infrastructure development including roads, youth employment, agriculture and the rebuilding of Ikogosi Warm Springs tourist site to an international standard.
In his keynote speech, Mr. S.O. Bankole, a former Head of Service, who spoke on “The Doctrine of Neutrality (Impartiality) and Anonymity”, said civil servants should not participate in politics either covertly or overtly, warning that their participation would affect and also diminish the quality of advice given to the political leadership.
“Our bureaucracy should maintain its attribution of neutrality under any political dispensation.
“The real loyal public servants are the ones telling the politicians what they should know and not what they want to hear,” he said.
Delegates from Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ondo States attended the one-day conference.
