Reforms That Will Stand The Test Of Time Must Be Built On Institutions........Dr Yemi Esan

 

"For reforms to be sustainable, it must be institutional based, not based on any individual. If it is based on an individual, as the individual moves out, the reform moves out with that individual." Dr. Esan

Dr Yemi Esan, the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has stated that reforms that will stand the test of time must be built on institutions.

 

Dr Esan who stated this during the 2026 International Civil Service Conference, said, "For reforms to be sustainable, it must be institutional based, not based on any individual. If it is based on an individual, as the individual moves out, the reform moves out with that individual.

According to her, "it must be rooted in institutions. It also must have some form of legal framework.

"There must be some stamping to that reform process so that whoever comes in sees the reform as something they must follow." she stated

For the reform to be successful, she also stated that it must be widely acceptable to the people targeted for the reform.

"Another thing is that the reform must be widely accepted by people or the group you want to reform so that even when an individual goes, there is already an existing system. So the reform on its own will progress." Dr. Yemi-Esan said

The lead panelist, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, who was also one of the panelists  stressed that people generally will oppose any reform, as they don't know what the future holds for them.

He said "I want to suggest to us that reforms are usually any artificial inducement against resistance.

"So, anytime you want to undertake reforms, you need to know that people will resist. People will resist fundamentally because they are comfortable with the status quo.

"They do not want the status quo to change. So anytime you want to reform, we need to know that they are coming against the reforms." he added

He also stressed that the topic is of essence to the survival of a people as public sector reforms are central to effective governance.

He said; "The real essence of governance is the good of the people. Institutional accountability and national development are very important in today's world.

"Indeed most of our constitutions on the continent talks about associational autonomy, and therefore we belong to different groupings. No two people are the same, that's a fundamental part of life."

Transitions will bring renewals, some innovations, and some institutional strengthenings in the process. He stated