Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, 28 February, 2024, appointed five Directors in the State’s civil service to the position of Permanent Secretary, charging them to deploy their experience and knowledge to enhance service delivery to the residents.
The Governor said the appointment of the new Permanent Secretaries was based on their respective performances in the assessment process and their track records of delivery on tasks they were assigned.
Their elevation, Sanwo-Olu said, came with more tasks and responsibilities, especially in the period when citizens had high expectations on the Government to improve their lives and protect them from the effects of the current economic hardship.
The Governor charged the appointees to be mindful of the responsibilities placed on their shoulders, urging them to hit the ground running immediately.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Your appointment as Permanent Secretaries comes with substantial responsibility. As you celebrate, you must also bring to mind, the solemn task placed upon your shoulders. The people of Lagos have placed a lot of trust in this administration, and they expected that we deliver. The task ahead is not without challenges, especially in this period when the citizens’ attention is focused on all of us, with high expectation, to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship.
“The engine room for our Government’s noble vision is a robust civil service. Your dedication, knowledge and strategic vision are the bedrock on which our policies and programmes certainly lie on. It is believed that you are part of the team that will translate these tangible benefits to our citizens. Therefore, I urge you to rededicate yourselves and give your best at all times towards ensuring the diligent implementation of Government policies and programmes as they relate to context of our development agenda.”
The Governor told the appointees to always work with integrity and transparency, while keeping in mind that their commitment would be instrumental to achieving aspiration of Greater Lagos.
He encouraged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through the appointment, charging them to give their utmost best in the discharge of their duties.
“I urge you to embrace empathy and compassion as you carry out your duties. You must strive for excellence at all times and ensure that Lagosians get the best of your effort at all times,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The state Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, said the appointment of the new Permanent Secretaries indicated the Governor’s commitment to excellence, merit, fairness and transparency, noting that the appointees were selected from the pool of Directors who participated in the year 2022 Merit based Screening Exercise for appointment as Permanent Secretaries.
While congratulating the appointees, Agoro urged them to maintain good standing with the political heads and staff of their respective MDAs for speedy attainment of their given mandates.
The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are: Engr. Somide Lateef Ayodele (Office of Infrastructure), Engr. Adegbite Mahmood Olakunle (Office of Drainage Services), Mr. Emmanuel Fatai Audu (Ministry of Agriculture), Mrs. Oki Lyla Morenike (Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC) and Surv. Ayokunnu Adeshina Sikiru (Surveyor-General Office).
