THOUGHTS ON RETIREMENT. By Mr. I. Babatunde Akilo
Being a valedictory address delivered at the Peer Review meeting of Permanent
Secretaries to mark the retirement from service of Mr. I. Babatunde Akilo,
Permanent Secretary on Thursday 30th, August, 2018 at Ado Ekiti.
Mr. I. Babatunde Akilo is currently on Government/Political appointment as Commissioner 1, Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission.
- PROTOCOLS
- INTRODUCTION
2.1 “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning
of something else” (Fred Rogers).
2.2 I consider it a rare privilege given to only a few to deliver this Valedictory
Address to mark my retirement from the civil service of Ekiti State after 35 years‟
service to my fatherland. I would like to commend the Head of Service
for this initiative. I had always been bothered that civil servants of all
cadres just retire unceremoniously: here today, gone tomorrow! For a service that
one devoted one’s productive years to, I thought that it was necessary to mark the
departure, no matter how simply. This, therefore, gladdens our heart. Of course,
not for me the gaudy celebration of retirement by a certain sector of our public
service.
2.3 I do not pretend to be an academic, therefore I will not be presenting an
academic paper. Rather, I will be sharing with you what I consider remarkable
events in my life, especially in the public service, and try to draw lessons therefrom
for our mutual benefit. We may also look at the events as case studies for
discussion. - THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
3.1 As public servants, we exist because there is a government that we serve. In
order to be relevant, we must be seen to be working to achieve the goals that
government sets for itself.
3.2 In Chapter II Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria (as amended), titled “Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of
State Policy”, the purpose of government is defined as follows:
“b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose
of government;”
3.3 In the Preamble of the American Constitution, the purpose of government is
described as to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty
to ourselves and our posterity”.
3.4 In the case of Colonial Nigeria, British interest in the territory was basically
economic. In fact, the Royal Niger Company (a trading company) governed the
territory of Nigeria from 1886 to 1899, authorized by Royal Charter. In 1900, Nigeria
passed from company hands to the Crown after a payment of £865,000 as
compensation for the loss of its charter.
Walter Egerton, one of the Governors of Colonial Nigeria sent this six point agenda
in a telegram of 29th November, 1907 to the Colonial Office:
(i) To pacify the country
(ii) To establish settled government in the newly won district
(iii) To improve and extend native footpaths throughout the country
(iv) To construct properly graded roads in the more populated districts
(v) To clear the numerous rivers in the country and make them suitable for
launch and canoe traffic and
(vi) To extend its railways
Source: Wikipedia
3.5 The Colonial Public service existed to achieve these, and other clearly defined
objectives of government. Therefore, as public servants, we must be focused on the
goals, objectives and programs of government and work relentlessly towards
achieving them.
3.6 But the question arises: Can we say Nigeria (or Ekiti State) has clearly
defined long-term goals and objectives unaffected by changing administrations?
The dilemma of the public servant in our clime arises from the non-existence or not
clearly defined goals of our governments. Our individual heroics or achievements
must therefore, be seen within this larger framework of seeming national opacity.
- IN THE BEGINNING
4.1 In late 1986, I was invited by the Ondo State Civil Service Commission for
Extended Interview for appointment as an Administrative Officer. I had graduated
earlier in 1982 in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and employed as a
Graduate Teacher in November 1983. The dress code for the interview provided
two options: English suit or complete traditional. I opted for the latter and wore
“agbada” for the two-day interview. I was the only one so dressed. After the
interview when I told my mother I was the only one in agbada, she said something,
to the effect that she hoped my stubbornness would not cost me something dear!
4.2 In early 1987, when we were invited for the Commissioners’ interview, I played
safe and wore an English suit. The panel was made up of highly distinguished
individuals which enhanced my perception of the civil service. The Chairman was a
Professor and clergy man, first Commissioner was a retired Ambassador and author;
second Commissioner was a retired first class school principal and Clergyman, third Commissioner was a Senior Lecturer from the then University of Ife. The consultant
was the Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service, the pipe-
smoking, debonair Mr. Olaiya Oni. His question to me was what would I recommend
to the on-going Political Bureau which was collating views on the political structure to
adopt for Nigeria: a unicameral or bicameral legislature. I promptly replied that I
would recommend a unicameral legislature, primarily to reduce the cost of
governance. He asked if I knew the caliber of people who were usually elected to
the Upper House (Senate) like former Governors, top businessmen, retired
bureaucrats, retired Generals, etc. I said Yes, we could have those distinguished
individuals and the not-so-distinguished together in ONE chamber. He seemed to
be getting flustered by this “impudent” young man and it was Dr. Ogunmilade, one of
the Commissioners who came to my aid by explaining patiently the philosophy
behind a bicameral legislature and the principle of equality of states. I quickly
agreed and nodded my head! But the debate is still on-going today. And I still stand
where I stood 31 years ago: a unicameral national assembly for Nigeria to reduce
the cost of governance. I will go further to add that ALL legislative houses in Nigeria
be part-time.
4.3 Considering the number of bills passed by the legislature at the three tiers of
government and the number of days they are on recess in a year, Nigeria would be
very well served by a lean, part-time legislature.
4.4 Earlier in this section, I dwelled on the quality of the membership of the 1987
Ondo State Civil Service Commission because I wish to emphasise, especially in
this period of transition, the need for knowledgeable, well-educated and experienced
persons to be appointed or elected, not only into the regulatory agencies (the
Commissions) but also into other positions in the executive and legislative arms of
government. Good education, breeding and character do co-exist with political
sagacity in a surprisingly large segment of our population. - BEGGING TO LEAVE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
5.1 In 1990, I was posted to Government House as Protocol Officer to the Wife of
the Governor. I served the wives of two Military Governors and a civilian Governor.
For reasons best known to her, the wife of the civilian Governor felt uncomfortable
working with me; made me redundant and subsumed my office under that of a junior
Administrative Officer who was female. I went to the Permanent Secretary, Office of
Establishments and Training Mr. Olu Ipinlaye to request to be posted out of
Government House. The Permanent Secretary laughed and asked in jest if I wanted
to be posted to the Governor’s Protocol team which was financially more rewarding,
I said no. I wanted out of Government House. He said he could not do it. Since I did
not see myself going back to that office, I told him I would go and resign my
appointment. Seeing I was dead serious, he asked me to go and see Chief P. A. Familoni, then Director, Establishments who effected my posting to Office of
Establishments and Training where I had two exciting tours! - THE POWER GENERATING SET EPISODE
6.1 In 2006, I was Director, State Finances in the Ministry of Finance and Budget.
One day, I received a message from my colleague, the Director of Finance and
Administration, that the Honourable Commissioner of Finance directed through the
Permanent Secretary that I should move the power generating set attached to the
Debt Management Unit (one of the units under me) to his private residence. A little
background is necessary here. The power generating set was a gift to the Ekiti
State Government by the DFID/Debt Management Office as a reward for being the
first State to establish a Debt Management Unit and the equipment was obviously
meant to facilitate the unit’s work. At the time, President Obasanjo was visiting Ekiti
State and he was to commission the new Accountant General’s office behind the
Ministry of Finance and the generating set needed to be moved for easy presidential
access to the new building. But to a private residence! I said no and the
Commissioner was informed by the Permanent Secretary that Mr. Akilo said it could
not be done. Fearing a backlash, I reported the incident to the Head of Service,
Elder Bankole who promised to support me in case there was a fall-out. Fortunately,
there was none. The generating set has remained government property up to date.
I found it hard to conceive a transfer of government property to private hands in such
a cavalier manner without due process and I expected my immediate superior to
support me. - “DISMISS ALL CERTIFICATE FORGERS”
7.1 In November, 2009, I was appointed Executive Secretary and posted to the
Civil Service Commission. Sometime in the first quarter of 2010, the Chairman of
the Commission invited me to his office and said he was coming from the Governor
who instructed him to go and dismiss all those who had been found culpable of
falsifying their records (date of birth) or those who had fake academic certificates. I
went back and compiled the records. A substantial number of those involved had
spent between 15 to 32 years in the civil service. I remembered the Retrenchment
Exercise in the early 1990s in Ondo State for which a former Governor is
remembered in unflattering terms till today. My argument was that both the culprits
and government were at fault. If Government could allow somebody with falsified
records to obtain employment and stay in that job for over 30 years, it could not
completely be exculpated. We therefore, proposed that those who had spent 5
years or less in service be dismissed and those who had spent longer should have
their appointments terminated with the possibility of a terminal pay-off in future.
Government eventually resolved to pay only gratuities and no pension to those in this category. I believe we averted a major catastrophe and saved that
administration from everlasting odium by our „tactical disobedience‟! - CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
8.1 As stated in an earlier paragraph, we are public servants because we have a
country (or state). Without a country, there is no public service. Therefore, we owe
it a duty to ourselves and our future generations to contribute to the building of a
viable, stable and prosperous country. I therefore, would like to comment on two
matters that have constitutional implications.
8.2 But before then, let us lay a premise. It is generally believed that the civil
service, is now in a parlous State manifesting the following symptoms, among
others:
i) absenteeism
ii) lack of professionalism
iii) political partisanship
iv) cronyism
v) appointments/recruitment not based on merit
vi) lack of motivation
vii) low outcomes etc.
8.3 Appointment of Permanent Secretary
Section 208 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states thus:
1) Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section
applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall rest
in the Governor of the State
2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely:
a) Secretary to the Government of the State
b) Head of the Civil Service of the State
c) Permanent Secretary or other Chief Executive in any Ministry or
Department of the Government of the State howsoever designated, and
d) Any office on the personal staff of the Governor
3) An appointment to the office of the Head of Civil Service of a State shall
not be made except from among Permanent Secretaries or equivalent rank
in the civil service of any State or of the Federation
8.4 If we agree that a virile civil service is critical to the achievement of
Government’s objectives, and we agree that a fish starts rotting from the head, then
there is need to strengthen the position of the Permanent Secretary by adding this
phrase to Section 208, as subsection 3a A Permanent Secretary shall not be removed from office until he is either
60 years of age or has spent 35 years in service except on grounds of
proven misconduct, incompetence, or ill health.
8.5 I believe this amendment to the Constitution will restore the dignity of the
office and empower and embolden holders of the position to offer professional
advice without fear. - RESTRUCTURING OF THE FEDERATION
9.1 I would like to add my voice to the clamour by patriotic and well-meaning
Nigerians for the restructuring of Nigeria along the lines of:
i) Devolution of Powers: The Federal Government should divest itself of
most of the functions on the Exclusive List and transfer same to states
or regions (as may be decided) leaving it with only Defence, Foreign
Affairs, Customs, Immigrations, Federal Police, Maritime activities,
Federal Police while states or regions should be in charge of education,
health, agriculture, infrastructure, state police
ii) Review of the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of States and Local
Governments commensurate with their new, increased responsibilities
iii) State and Community Police.
9.2 Nigeria is a large, diverse country with people of different cultures, religions,
languages and world views. A less centralized government that gives more powers
to the constituent units, will unleash the huge potentials that the country possesses
and reduce the endless frictions of the contending units. It will make each unit to
develop at its own pace and make Nigeria assume its destined of role of leading
Africa and the black world. The Federal Government must muster the political will to
make the necessary constitutional amendments (or re-writing) to make this possible. - LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION
10.1 My last two years and three months in service were spent in the Local
Government Service Commission which purview is the appointment, promotion and
discipline of Unified officers (GL.07 and above) of the Local Government Service.
10.2 In my time there, in conjunction with the Chairman, Commissioners Board
members and the Secretariat, we achieved the following:
i) Promotion of a total of 9,359 officers for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and
2017.
ii) Resuscitation and completion of the Computerization of Human
Resource and Payroll System for the Local Government Service. The system has capability to process salaries for the Local Government
Service and generate other human resource reports.
iv) Production of Annual Budgets for the Commission for 2017 and 2018.
v) Production of Approved Establishment for the Entire Local
Governments for 2018.
vi) A new training paradigm whereby ALL unified members of staff in ALL
the seven departments in ALL Local Governments benefit from
customized training at least once a year, if not more.
vii) Establishment of a Pension Transitional Arrangement Department for
the exclusive handling of Local Government pensions and the
appointment of an Executive Secretary.
viii) The Local Government Staff Training School has become a believe
activities with the Commission’s training programmes held there. It has
also added three new programmes i.e. Advanced Certificate Course in
Local Government Studies; Advanced Certificate Course in Community
Development Studies and Certificate Course in Computer Studies. - CONCLUDING REMARKS
11.1 It now remains for me to express my gratitude:
- to God who makes all things possible.
- to my family who have stood by me and been my backbone
- to the Government and people of Ondo and later Ekiti States for giving me the
opportunity to serve and to rise to the very top - and finally to you my colleagues for your rapt attention and for being jolly good
fellows in these past 35 years.
11.2 Thank you.
