In recent years, the aura of honour and respectability attached to employment in public service has regrettably faded and is now replaced by popular perception of greed, insensitivity, corruption and impunity. The stability and exciting career prospects in public service attracted the brightest and the best of our youths and the prevailing culture of discipline, integrity and commitment were supported by our traditional value for a good family name.
.
Consequently, in spite of the meagre revenue base of both the regional and federal governments, huge strides were made to promote the social welfare of increasing number of our countrymen. For example, Chief Obafemi Awolowo's 1955 budget speech indicated that, laudable achievements were made possible from the very modest returns from the agricultural produce of these regional governments. In retrospect, the political leaderships were not victims of their own greed, and public service was also not seen as a means to odious personal wealth accumulation.