Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday swore in seven new Permanent Secretaries, charging them to set clear performance benchmarks and drive efficient service delivery across ministries and agencies. The governor also inaugurated members of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, naming Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode Olumuyiwa as chairman.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Alausa, brings the total number of Permanent Secretaries appointed by the current administration to 129.
Addressing the new appointees, Sanwo-Olu emphasised that their roles were not ceremonial but came with heightened public expectations and responsibilities as accounting officers of their respective ministries.
“Permanent Secretary is not a ceremonial title; the position serves as an institutional memory of the government. It is the linchpin between policy as envisioned and policy as delivered,” the governor said. He noted that while political office holders may change with electoral cycles, Permanent Secretaries remain critical to continuity in governance and policy execution.
Describing Lagos as a complex and demanding environment, the governor said the state’s large population and economic scale require a high level of efficiency and commitment from top public servants.
“As Permanent Secretaries, you are now part of the answer to the expectations of over 20 million residents. I expect each of you to establish clear performance benchmarks on assumption of duty,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the appointees to internalise and vigorously implement the administration’s THEMES+ agenda, stressing that governance outcomes depend largely on the effectiveness of ministries and agencies.
He added that their emergence followed a rigorous selection process that tested not only competence but also character, noting that public service in Lagos demands integrity, intellectual depth and the ability to lead under pressure.
The governor also charged members of the Health Service Commission to ensure merit-based recruitment of healthcare professionals, stressing that the quality of healthcare delivery in state-owned facilities would depend on the strength of the workforce.
“I expect you to approach your mandate with seriousness, independence and a clear understanding that the lives of ordinary Lagosians are ultimately in the balance,” he said, warning against misuse of public resources.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, said the appointments reflected the state’s commitment to placing qualified individuals in appropriate roles, a practice he noted would strengthen governance and service delivery.
The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were subsequently deployed to various offices and ministries, including Urban Development, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Office of Works, Health District II, and the Bureau of Public Defender.
Members of the Health Service Commission include Dr Ogboye Olusegun Abayomi, Dr Odunuga Omolaja Odushola, Dr Adejumo Moyosore Wuraola and Dr Fadipe Ololade Omolayo.
