Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday swore in 19 new Permanent Secretaries.
They are Folarin Adeyemi, Information and Strategy; Olabode Agoro, Lands Bureau; Ayodele Amosu, Teachers Establishment and Pension Office; Abiola Anifowoshe, Education District VI; Olabisi Ariyo, Education; Caster Bade-Adebowale, Office of the Chief of Staff; Boladele Dapo-Thomas, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Adebisi Kadiri, Economic Planning and Budget and Olorunfemi Mustapha, Science and Technology.
Others are Adesina Odeyemi, Public Service Office; Arinola Odulana, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment; Adesola Odunlami, Justice; Olusola Odupitan, Audit Service Commission; Olanike Oduwole, Wealth Creation and Employment; Adesina Onisarotu, Environment and Dr. Nuriat Sodeinde, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations and Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement.
Speaking at the occasion, Ambode warned them to guard against compromise in the discharge of their duties.
“Any ministry where the quality of service is compromised, the Permanent Secretary, as Accounting Officer, should be held liable. I expect nothing but excellence in this centre of excellence.
Ambode said he expected them to apply the best tenets of the civil service in their roles as accounting officers of their ministries, making service and the common good of all Lagosians their watchwords.
He said their appointment, from a pool of equally competent and qualified substantive directors, were as a result of a careful selection based on merit, professionalism and proven track record of service to the State.
Ambode recalled that during his inaugural address, he promised to carry out public sector reforms, saying this phase had seen the merging and realignment of ministries and agencies as well as the creation of new ones.
“We have established the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, the Overseas Affairs and Investment and the Office of Civic Engagement. These are in line with our campaign promises to run an inclusive government and create better opportunities for our people,” he said.
According to him, this phase had also witnessed the realignment of parastatals/agencies reporting through their superintending ministries to the governor.
“In all, we must be committed to the principles of good governance, probity, transparency and accountability”, he said.
Ambode disclosed that the next phase was the constitution of cabinet to conslidate on the foundation that had been laid in the last 60 days.
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, pledged that she and her colleagues would work hard to deliver quality service to move Lagos to the next level.
She solicited cooperation from all to enable them to effectively discharge their responsibilities.
