Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday charged the newly constituted Chairmen, Executive Secretaries and Members of some Boards and Commissions of State Agencies to make performance their yardstick in office.
He charged them to see their appointment as a call to service and make extra-ordinary efforts to move Lagos forward.
Speaking at the inauguration of the heads of the boards at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Monday, the governor said the inauguration of the new appointees, coming just after the Leadership Retreat organized by the state for Commissioners, Special Advisers, Body of Permanent Secretaries and some heads of agencies, were all geared towards avoiding a vacuum that could impede timely and smooth policy implementation process.
He said that as public officials, the new appointees must have it at the back of their minds that they shoulder a great burden which calls for high sense of responsibility and sacrifice, and therefore will require extra-ordinary efforts and commitment to the advancement of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
Ambode admonished the appointees to deliver and add value to the quality of service in the state.
“To achieve a globally competitive economy that works 24 hours of the day and 7 days of the week requires extra-ordinary efforts and commitment. This is what is required of you.
“I urge you to uphold the spirit of excellence for which our state is known by discharging your responsibilities excellently. Nothing short of excellence is acceptable to the people of Lagos State. I urge you to maintain your integrity and always be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” he stated.
The agencies inaugurated include the Lagos State Health Service Commission; Lagos State Audit Service Commission; Lagos State Local Government Service Commission; Lagos State Judicial Service Commission; Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board; and Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board.
The Governor also inaugurated the Chairmen and Executive Secretaries of Lagos State Safety Commission; Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission; and the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Collecting Authority respectively.
Dr. Bayo Aderiye was appointed as Chairman of Health Service Commission, while the Audit Service Commission has Alhaji Abiodun Waliu Onibon as its Chairman.
The Universal Basic Education Board has as its Chairman, Dr. Ganiu Sopeyin, while Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa was appointed Chairman of Local Government Service Commission.
Mr. Fouad Oki was appointed Executive Secretary of Lagos State Safety Commission, while Mr. Joe Igbokwe is the new Executive Secretary of Lagos State Wharf Landing Fee Collecting Authority.
Arch. Ahmed Kabir Abdullahi was also inaugurated as the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa, a retired Head of Service, promised to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Governor to serve the people of Lagos State.
“We will discharge this duty with all sense of responsibility. We shall be transparent, honest and be diligent in the course of this assignment. We are going to mobilize all the staff in these Departments and Agencies to ensure that we actualize the manifesto of our great party and the campaign promises made by the Governor to the good people of Lagos State,” Rotinwa said.