Daud Olatunji
Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from the South-West have renewed calls for the restoration of regional government, warning that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and governance challenges are rooted in the country’s over-centralised political structure.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the 11th Quarterly Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, South-West Nigeria, held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The meeting, attended by delegates from all six South-West states, was declared open by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
The retired top civil servants urged governors in the region to spearhead nationwide advocacy for constitutional amendments that would restore regional governance, describing the current federal arrangement as incapable of adequately addressing Nigeria’s security and developmental needs.
According to the communiqué jointly signed by the Regional President, Barr. Demola Badejo, and the Secretary, Pastor (Mrs.) A. Olufadewa, Nigeria should urgently adopt a six-region system of government to better reflect the country’s diversity and promote effective administration.
The association argued that the country’s persistent security crisis “may be suggesting clear ties to our flawed political system,” insisting that restructuring remained critical to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.
The body also condemned the growing wave of kidnappings targeting schoolchildren and teachers, particularly in Oyo State and other parts of the country, describing the attacks as “a vicious assault” on education.
It expressed sympathy with affected families, stressing that the nation’s educational heritage and future “are not negotiable.”
Beyond constitutional reforms, the retired bureaucrats called for greater regional integration through improved inter-state transportation, urging governments in the South-West to develop road, rail and air connectivity to stimulate economic growth and ease movement within the region.
The association also advocated closer collaboration with regional institutions, including the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria and the South West Development Commission, to formulate and implement development policies for the region.
The group lamented that successive state governments had failed to maximise the expertise of retired senior civil servants despite their vast administrative experience.
It urged governments across the South-West to engage members of the association as a policy think tank and involve them in ongoing public service reforms to ensure institutional continuity and improve governance.
The association further recommended that serving Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from states across the South-West should be encouraged to participate in its quarterly meetings to strengthen collaboration between serving and retired public officers.
The retired civil servants commended the Ondo State Government for fulfilling its financial commitment towards the association’s development agenda publication and urged other South-West states to redeem their pledges.
They also applauded the Presidency and the National Assembly for the passage of legislation establishing state police, describing it as a major step towards decentralising security.
Similarly, the association welcomed the establishment of the Federal Ministry for Regional Integration and Development, expressing optimism that the ministry would deepen regional cooperation and accelerate development across the country.
The communiqué reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting good governance, public service reforms and regional integration, while pledging to continue offering policy advice to governments in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
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