The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has described a professional and politically neutral civil service as indispensable to effective governance, sustainable development and economic growth.
Oyebanji, who spoke through the state Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, made the declaration at the 12th South-West Regional Quarterly Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries held in Ado Ekiti.
The governor commended retired top civil servants across the region for their contributions to public administration, saying their professionalism, integrity and experience had helped build a durable foundation for governance in the South-West.
Oyebanji also disclosed that his administration had drawn extensively from the experience of retired bureaucrats by appointing three members of the association into the state Executive Council.
Among them, he said, was the immediate past Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi, who currently serves as Commissioner for Women Affairs.
“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,” the governor said.
He added that his administration remained committed to improving the welfare of retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries and other public servants.
“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,” Oyebanji stated.
In his keynote address, a former Head of Service, Mr S.O. Bankole, warned civil servants against overt or covert involvement in partisan politics, arguing that such involvement could compromise their neutrality and diminish the quality of professional advice available to political leaders.
Speaking on the theme, “The Doctrine of Neutrality (Impartiality) and Anonymity,” Bankole maintained that the bureaucracy must remain professionally neutral regardless of the political administration in power.
He said, “Our bureaucracy should maintain its attribution of neutrality under any political dispensation.”
Bankole added that civil servants had a responsibility to provide political leaders with objective professional advice rather than simply endorsing their preferences.
“The real loyal public servants are the ones telling the politicians what they should know and not what they want to hear,” he said.
The Regional President of the association, Demola Badejo, said the body was strengthening its partnership with key South-West development institutions, including the South-West Development Commission, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission and Odu’a Investment Company Limited.
Badejo, a lawyer and former Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, said the partnerships followed his recent engagements with the organisations in Ibadan.
He urged the state chapters to support the implementation of the association’s seven-point agenda, which he said was designed to reposition the organisation and contribute to the development of the South-West.
According to him, the experience and networks accumulated by retired public administrators should not end with their retirement from active service.
“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,” Badejo said.
Badejo also announced plans to commence an initiative known as “Odu’a House,” modelled after London’s Chatham House, where political aspirants would be invited to engage with stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the initiative would begin featuring candidates for the 2027 elections at the Lagos Airport Hotel in the coming weeks.
Badejo disclosed that he had visited Chatham House in London about three weeks earlier to explore possible areas of collaboration for the initiative.
He said the proposed platform would provide an avenue for candidates to articulate their programmes and engage with the public on issues concerning governance and development.
Earlier, the President of the Ekiti State chapter of the association, Chief Oluwole Ariyomo, commended Oyebanji for his support for the organisation.
Ariyomo also highlighted what he described as the governor’s administration’s efforts in infrastructure development, youth employment and agriculture.
He specifically cited road projects and the rebuilding of the Ikogosi Warm Springs tourist facility as areas of development under the administration.
The one-day regional meeting attracted delegates from Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ondo states.
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