South-West former senior bureaucrats call for changes to the constitution

Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from the South-West have urged for constitutional reforms to bolster regional governance, citing it as a viable solution to Nigeria's security and developmental woes, with the proposal emerging from the 11th Quarterly Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, South-West Nigeria.

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This meeting, held in Ibadan, brought together a contingent of retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and government officials from six states: Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, to deliberate on governance, public service reforms, regional development, and Nigeria's federal structure.

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Chief Adebisi Adesola, Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of ARHOSPS-SWN, posited that Nigeria's erstwhile regional system fostered a competitive environment, spurred economic growth, ensured political stability, and facilitated effective governance, in stark contrast to the current centralized structure which he believes has enfeebled the states' capacity to tackle insecurity and drive development.

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Adesola contended that a return to regional governance would serve to bring government closer to the populace, fortify security coordination, accelerate economic development, and promote national cohesion, while also linking the country's burgeoning security challenges to the weaknesses inherent in the existing political structure.

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The recent abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State was cited by Adesola as a testament to the frailties in the current system, underscoring the need for a paradigm shift towards regional governance.

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Regional President of ARHOSPS-SWN, Mr. Demola Badejo, exhorted governments at all levels to leverage the expertise of retired senior civil servants, revealing that the association has crafted a seven-point agenda focused on policy advocacy, strategic partnerships, leadership development, and enhanced engagement with governments and regional institutions.

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Chairman of the Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Chief Kamoru Aderibigbe, emphasized the importance of harnessing the experience of seasoned public servants in nation-building, stressing that the knowledge and experience of retired civil servants remain invaluable assets for promoting good governance.

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Oyo State Head of Service, Dr. Adenike Fasina, described retired public servants as custodians of institutional memory, whose expertise remains vital to effective governance, in her goodwill message.

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, lauded members of the association for their sustained contributions to governance after retirement, disclosing that the association's 268-page proposal on South-West economic development, submitted in 2025, was already receiving attention from governments across the region.

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Makinde also highlighted the achievements of his administration in key sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure, while noting that the state government had increased monthly gratuity payments from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion.

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The state government has also allocated land for the construction of a permanent secretariat for retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in Oyo State, as announced by Governor Makinde.