Corruption: Fashola Talks Tough, Warns Permanent Secretaries

He also cautioned them against nepotism and other acts capable of undermining the interest of the public they are called to serve.

The new appointees include Engineer Deji Adenekan, Joseph Adediran, Dr Longe Rotimi, Ogunmola Modinat, Ebunola Oladimeji, Architect Dipe and Folashade Onabolu.

Others are Salami Mabayoje, Sanusi Adewole, Soname Abosede, Umar Sukura, Ogunnaike Oluwatosin.

Fashola who was speaking at the swearing in ceremony said the call to public service must never be seen as a means to benefit self at the expense of the generality of the people.

He cautioned the permanent secretaries not to see their appointments as promotion but a call to leadership in their various ministries.

“Let me be very clear that this is not a promotion, it’s an appointment to lead, it’s a call to leadership. It is a very important call to leadership at a time when our societies, our communities, our nation and indeed the world face a serious leadership challenge.

“You will be expected to provide leadership in the various ministries that you will lead; as accounting officers, you are expected to have a firm grip of those ministries, departments and agencies that respond and report to you,” Fashola stressed.

He also implored them to be faithful to the oaths they have taken to eschew corruption as he called on friends and families of the appointees not to mount undue pressure on them in a bid to get undue advantage over others at the expense of merit.

Governor Fashola had earlier inaugurated the Governing Council of the State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) under the Chairmanship of a former Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe.

The Governor described the PSSDC as the school of governance for the nation’s commercial capital city which is similar to the Kennedy’s School of Government in the United States of America.