The Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries South-West Nigeria (ARHOSPS-SWN) have called for speedy restoration of regional governance, as it is being done for the long awaited establishment of State Police
Penpushing reports that the call was contained in a communique issued at the end of its 11th quarterly meeting held at the local government service training school hall,Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
‘We make an urgent case for six(6) Regional Government to start as soon as practicable; a structure that will reflect our diversity and mitigate the limits of our current over centralized arrangement’, the body stated
‘Governors across the South West to work with their counterparts nationwide to mount necessary pressure on both the Presidency and National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to conclude the constitutional amendments that will restore Regional governance, as it is being done for the long awaited establishment of State Police’, it added
Penpushing further reports that the association affirmed that its membership is well positioned to serve as credible Think-Tank for the various socio-economic developmental vehicles/structures erected by the States
‘That our State Governments acknowledge the invaluable potentiality of retired Civil/Public Service leaders in addressing contemporary governance and administrative challenges That the invaluable human resource available in the State Associations of ARHOSPS-SWN is yet to be optimally utilised by the respective State Governments’, the communique read
Penpushing also reports that the association frowned at kidnapping of school children and teachers in Yorubaland, pointing out that it is a vicious assault and affront on education industry, adding that the unabated security challenges bedeviling the country may be suggesting clear ties to flawed political system
The association commiserates with and indeed share the pains of the affected families of school children and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State and other parts of the country while reaffirming that heritage and future are not negotiable
Penpushing reports that the body equally resolved that it should be involved in the coordination of the various reforms going on in the states’ public/civil services for a near uniform structure, stressing that the body should interface with all regional bodies such as DAWN and the South West Development Commission for articulation of robust and implementable development ideas
The meeting equally emphasized that there is urgent need for consideration of inter – State transportation connectivity, both road, rail and possibly Air, within the South West Regio, as well as serving Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries of States apart from the hosting State should be encouraged to be attending the association’s quarterly meetings as a means of giving them a preparatory sense of belonging
‘The association commended all our state governments for their commitment to the joint pledge made during the launch of the association’s book on the Agenda for the development of the South West. Ondo State Government was particularly appreciated for having fulfilled it’s part of the pledge while other States were implored to emulate’, the communique added
Penpushing further reports that the association commended both the Presidency and the National Assembly for the quick passage of the law establishing State Police, and applauded the establishment of a Federal Ministry for Regional Integration and Development with the expectation to achieve purpose without encumbrance.
The 11th quarterly meeting noted that the association was gaining more ground for relevance within the member states, and reaffirmed commitment to good governance based on effective regional integration and public service excellence.
The communiques jointly signed by Barrister Demola Badejo (Regional President) and Pastor (Mrs) A. Olufadewa(Secretary) pledged members continued advisory support for South West and National development.
Penpushing also reports that the quarterly meeting serves as a melting point for the member states to deliberate on matters of common interest of members and to hold common fronts in contributing to both the intellectual and socio-economic development of the South West geo-political zone of the Nigeria nation.
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