Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged the Head of Service (HOS) of the State Civil Service, Olabode Agoro, to dedicate himself to the task of governance and work to build on the achievements of his predecessors.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the constitution entrusted the office of the Head of Service with “enormous” responsibilities to provide direction and leadership for the public workforce.
The governor said this while swearing in Agoro as the 22nd HOS in Lagos on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
56-year-old Agoro succeeded Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who was recently appointed as the Private Secretary to President Bola Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu further described the civil service as “a resource centre” of the government, likening public service to a wheel that keeps governance and the government running.
He said: “The Office of the Head of Service, in a cosmopolitan State like Lagos, carries a lot of responsibility. This is so because Government relies significantly on the public service for the implementation of policies and programmes.
“Lagos public service has a great reputation of competence among its peers, but there is still so much to be done in order to continuously raise the bar of professionalism, and to ensure prompt, effective, and efficient service delivery that meet global standards.
“Given the high expectations of our citizens, this is the task that our new Head of Service must completely dedicate himself to as he takes on the huge responsibility of providing direction and leadership to the most vibrant and progressive public service in the country.
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“I have no doubt about his capability to lead the Civil Service, and to build on the legacy and achievements of his predecessors. My confidence and trust are predicated on his exemplary contributions, remarkable dedication, and his professionalism. Agoro has displayed these attributes over the years as a public servant.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that his administration recognised the important role public service played in the governance and delivery of democratic dividends to the people.
This, he said, was the rationale for constantly prioritising the welfare of civil servants.
The governor said he raised workers’ salaries last January by 20 per cent, to cater for their welfare, adding that he procured and made staff buses available to transport workers to and from work, thereby reducing their transportation costs due to the current economic situation.
Sanwo-Olu said his government had ensured housing slots were reserved for civil servants in housing projects undertaken in the state.
He said Muri-Okunola’s tenure as HOS was marked by significant success in the implementation of his administration’s development agenda, urging the new HOS and civil servants to join hand with his government “as it set out to surpass expectations in ground-breaking and milestone achievements across the pillars of THEMES Plus agenda”.
Speaking at the event, Agoro said he inherited “a fantastic, vibrant public service” from his predecessor, pledging to build on the legacy bequeathed to him.
The new HOS hailed Sanwo-Olu for prioritising the workers’ welfare, saying the approval of the Car Refurbishment Loan Scheme would go a long way in motivating the state employees and raise their dedication.
“My assumption of office as the 22nd Head of Service will bring about new opportunities for the civil servants. Their welfare and working environment will be paramount,” he stated.
Before his appointment as HOS, Agoro was the longest-serving Permanent Secretary, supervising the Lagos State Government Lands Bureau.
He also served as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Land Matters to during the administration of Tinubu as Lagos State Governor.
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