demands commitment to service
Lagos State looks to an immediate intervention in road rehabilitation/construction, containment of rising insecurity, reduction in poverty level, appropriate policy to driving housing delivery, improved standard of education and facilities in public schools amid other expectations following the swearing-in of commissioners and special advisers (SAs) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday.
The allocation of portfolios to the new commissioners and special advisers put them on the spotlight as this makes their assessment in the roles they are expected to perform in different sectors of the state economy easier.
As expected, Governor Ambode, who, for almost five months, has been running the affairs of Nigeria’s biggest economy state with the support of permanent secretaries, has charged the 23 new commissioners and 14 SAs to roll up their sleeves and immediately get to work.
“My fellow colleagues in the cabinet, Lagos is on the brink of greatness and you have all been given this platform to write your names in gold. You must work to leave a legacy that will be spoken of in glowing terms in years to come.
“The challenges that come with the boisterous profile of the state as one of the world’s fastest growing cosmopolitan city-state are as many as the opportunities that abound in it.
“You are to implement decisions that will combat crimes and secure our people. Lagosians call on you to create job opportunities for our youths and attract investments into the state,” Ambode charged the cabinet members, adding that in the last four months he had stabilised the financial economy of the state, despite inherited financial liabilities, and would expect that they join him in doing more.
The commissioners and their portfolios include: Steve Ajorinde, information and strategy; Gbolahan Lawal, housing; Jide Idris, health; Folarin Coker, tourism, arts and culture; Seye Oladejo, special duties and intergovernmental relations; Ganiyu Johnson, works and infrastructure; Oluwatoyin Suarau, agriculture; Rotimi Ogunleye, commerce, industry and cooperatives; Akinyemi Ashade, economic planning and budget; Babatunde Adejare, environment; Olawale Oluwo, energy and mineral resources; Benson Akintola, establishment, training and pensions; Mustapha Akinkunmi, commissioner for finance; Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, home affairs.
Others are Adeniji Kazeem, justice; Musiliu Folami, local government and community affairs; Townplanner Wasiu Anifowoshe, physical planning and urban development; Olufemi Odubiyi, science and technology; Ekundayo Mobereola, transportation; Adebowale Akinsanya, waterfront infrastructure development; Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, wealth creation and employment; Lola Akande, women affairs and poverty alleviation; Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, youth and social development, while Oluranti Adebule, the deputy governor is put in charge of education.
The SAs and their portfolios are Ayodeji Tinubu, sports/chairman, Lagos State Sports Council; Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, food security; Yetunde Onabolu, urban development; Kehinde Joseph, civic engagement; Adebimpe Akinsola, arts and culture; Olufemi Onanuga, primary healthcare; Obafela Bank-Olemoh, education; Adeyemi Olabinjo, commerce; Anofi Elegushi, transport; Babatunde Hunpe, environment; Ademola Abass, overseas affairs and investment; Aramide Giwanson, housing; Kehinde Bamigbetan, community and communications; Agboola Dabiri, central business district (CBD).
Some notable personalities in attendance at the carnival-like event held at the state secretariat auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja were Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the House of Assembly, Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, Henry Ajomale, Lagos chairman of All Progressives Congress, members of National Assembly from Lagos, members of state House of Assembly, family members and political/professional associates of the commissioners and SAs.
