Since the return of democracy in 1999, political leaders have continued to weaken the civil service by eroding institutional discipline, promoting political patronage, truncating career progression and replacing merit with personal loyalty.
Promotions, appointments and recruitment are also frequently influenced by political connections rather than competence, qualifications or seniority.
As a result, competent professionals have left mainly due to stagnation, lack of incentives, political interference, favouritism and nepotism.
A recent example is the decision of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to reappoint Mrs. Titilayo Olayinka as Accountant General of the state barely 24 hours after she retired from the service upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
According to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Olayinka served as Accountant General from November 28, 2019, to August 24, 2026.
