By Our Reporter
November 04, 2015 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has told newly selected Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Olabowale Toluwatope Ademola that he will not accept non-performance in the discharge of her duty.
He charged her to see the appointment as a call to duty and immediately get to work, prove herself and justify the responsibility placed on her.
The Governor also elevated three substantive Directors; Mr. Tunde Tairu Ogunleye, Mr. Taofik Adeyemi Fashola and Mr. Fola Padonu as Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance, Audit Service Commission and Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment respectively.
Ambode who spoke at the Executive Council Chambers, Lagos House, Ikeja, said the appointments was in line with the practice of his administration to continually select and appoint experienced, dedicated and tested professionals to key positions in the government.
He charged the HOS to build on the achievements of her predecessor and work to take the state to the highest level in the delivery of good governance for the benefit of all residents and investors in Lagos State.
“The Lagos State Public Service is the reference point in public administration in Nigeria and is the engine room of the State government. The dynamism of the Lagos State Public Service lies in the pedigree of its leadership which has charted the course of proactive interpretation and implementation of government policies and programmes over the years”.
He told Mrs. Ademola that the immediate responsibility before her is to build on the gains of the recent reforms and re-alignment the current administration has undertaken in the civil service and ensure that the overall objectives of prompt, efficient and effective service delivery are achieved.
“The watchword is lean government, quality service”.
“As the number One civil servant in Lagos State, you must show leadership and inspire the over 100,000 Civil/Public servants to be united in their commitment to discharge their responsibilities in line with global best practices”.
“The goal of this administration is to strategically position Lagos State to be globally competitive in all sectors, the public service inclusive. A globally competitive public service must be proactive, knowledgeable, courteous, transparent, law abiding, accountable and selfless”.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the HOS to rise up to the challenge before her considering her years of experience and knowledge of the dynamics, peculiarities and strengths of the Lagos State Public Service.
“It is my expectation that in discharging your responsibilities, all sectors of the public service including the Body of Permanent Secretaries will be carried along and given a sense of belonging as active stakeholders”, he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ambode, while swearing-in the three newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, charged the appointees to see their appointment as a reward for dedication, urging them to promptly attend to all matters always.
The Governor reminded the appointees that they were chosen from a pool of equally qualified and competent officers, adding that they must uphold the tradition of excellence which the Lagos State Public Service is known for.
“I have confidence in your ability to meet this expectation given your pedigree and sufficient understanding of the goals of this administration to re-position the State Public Service. No excuse will be acceptable for non-performance,” the Governor stated.
Earlier, the Head of Service, in what was her first official duty, introduced the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, saying that their appointment, apart from being in line with the tradition of excellence which Governor Ambode is known for, was also in accordance with the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 208 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Ogunleye, who is a Chartered Accountant and a Lawyer, thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to himself and his colleagues to serve the State.
“We will do our best to ensure that Lagos excels. Your excellence has come with lofty ideas and we are ready to key into the ideas and serve,” Ogunleye said.
