Sanwo-Olu takes photo with the new permanent secretaries and others.
Elegbede Abiodun
• Sanwo-Olu asks for governance with discipline, efficiency, and uncompromising service delivery.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday raised the stakes in Lagos public service as he swore-in seven new Permanent Secretaries, charging them to deliver measurable results and set new standards across government ministries.
The swearing-in, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Alausa, also saw the inauguration of members of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery through merit-driven recruitment.
Sanwo-Olu made it clear that the appointments were far from ceremonial, warning that the expectations on the new appointees were high in a state of over 20 million people with growing demands.
“Permanent Secretary is not a ceremonial title,” the governor declared, stressing that the role remains the critical link between policy formulation and implementation.
He described Lagos as an economy competing with sovereign nations, insisting that governance at such a scale requires discipline, efficiency, and uncompromising service delivery.
The governor said the newly appointed officials emerged from a rigorous selection process that tested both competence and character, noting that technical ability alone would not suffice in a system that demands integrity, leadership and resilience.
Sanwo-Olu further directed the new Permanent Secretaries to align fully with his administration’s THEMES+ agenda, urging them to take ownership of policies and drive execution across their respective ministries and agencies.
On the healthcare front, the governor tasked the newly inaugurated Health Service Commission, led by Dr Olukayode Oguntimehin, to ensure transparency and merit in recruiting health professionals, warning that lives of residents depend on the quality of decisions taken.
“The era of confusing stewardship with ownership is over,” Sanwo-Olu said, calling for strict accountability in the management of public resources.
Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, noted that the appointments reflect Lagos’ commitment to placing the right people in the right roles, a move expected to deepen governance standards and improve service delivery.
The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries have been deployed across key sectors, including urban development, innovation, health, works and public defence, as the state intensifies efforts to strengthen institutional performance.
