New cabinet: There would be zero tolerance for lawlessness — Sanwo-Olu
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said as his second term administration takes full force with the inauguration of his cabinet, the government would not condone lawlessness.
Sanwo-Olu declared the clear line of his government for a “zero tolerance” to all forms of lawlessness at the heels of the closing of the retreat held for cabinets members who were last week Wednesday sworn in.
The retreat which had former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, his successor, Akinwunmi Ambode among those who tutored the newly inaugurated cabinet members was convened to prepare them for service on delivery of good governance to the people of Lagos.
The two former governors were among the facilitators who shared their experiences with the new executive council members at the 2023 On-Boarding and Executive Retreat Programme for the State Executive Council and body of Permanent Secretaries held in Epe, with the theme: “Navigating Government Excellence: Role of Leadership in ensuring a greater Lagos rises.”
According to Sanwo-Olu, the 3-day programme is germane to the policy thrust of his administration, the T.H.E.M.E Plus agenda.
He said the aim of the retreat was to harp on the need for the newly sworn-in cabinet members to work together as a team with a sense of commitment as well as bonding and sharing the vision with their staff.
Sanwo-Olu who spoke to news men at the closing of the retreat maintained that with the exercise, the new cabinet members have no excuse than to deliver the dividends of democracy to Lagosians with no reason to fail in their duty to ensure residents enjoy quality service delivery.
The Governor sought for the cooperation of the media in delivery of dividend of democracy, noting that his administration would no longer tolerate lawlessness or any action that would affect peaceful coexistence in the State.
“Part of our take away from the retreat is the level of zero tolerance that we are taking out of here.
“The Commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries have all been empowered to go out there and do the right thing.
“And when we begin to do all these difficult things, we are hoping that you (the media) will be able to give us fair reportage to know that we are not just being insensitive, wicked, we just want to do our job and do it well.
“So, when we see a building or property that are blocking drainage channels and we say we are going to pull it down, we are hoping that you will be on our side and be able to report to say that this has to go. And that is the only way people can live in a sane, safe and secured society.
“There is going to be zero tolerance. People cannot just assume that all our laws would not be obeyed. That is the charge we are giving ourselves here. That is the charge we are taking away from this retreat to further energise our people to further ensure that we do things, we are going to do things without fear or favour,” he said.
On his part, the Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso assured that they would work as a stronger team, act proactively to address issues, take charge and render quality service to Lagosians as the government enforces the law in order not to lose the environment to flooding.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, affirmed her commitment through the Ministry under her watch to collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to promote Afrobeats Music as it makes Lagos a tourism destination in Africa and the world where hospitality is top notch.
Other cabinet members also took turns to assure their commitment to service delivery.
Recall that Governor Sanwo-Olu had last Wednesday sworn in members of his second term cabinet, noting that the rejection of some nominees by the State House of Assembly was a reflection of the beauty of democracy where checks and balances remain a guiding principle.
Sanwo-Olu who deflated emotions and insinuations which were entangled around the decision of the Assembly rejecting 17 nominees of his first batch list and later two of the second batch, said it would not be a democratic state were the executive to lord its desires over the legislature, skewing it away from its oversight function.
Recall the State Assembly had last month rejected 17 of the first batch of nominees list submitted by Governor Sanwo-Olu in August and subsequently rejected two of the second batch list submitted. The development had attracted concerns that the State legislative arm may be headed for a showdown with the executive arm.
The Governor, however last Wednesday swore-in 37 Commissioners and Special Advisers who were confirmed by the State Assembly, charging them to engage collaboratively and work together to build on the successes of the incumbent administration’s first four years in office.
The State Executive Council members sworn in has a mix of politicians and technocrats with 29 men and eight women, made up of 18 returning members of the immediate past cabinet members and 19 new names.
Sanwo-Olu had charged the cabinet members to do their best to surpass the expectations of Lagos residents.
He had said the new Commissioners and Special Advisers have been carefully and painstakingly chosen, adding that “They are, by any measure, some of our best brains, not just in Lagos State, but right around the Country. These are men and women who can and will hold their own anywhere in the world. They are emblems of what Lagos State is all about – a Centre of Excellence. Lagosians should therefore rejoice in their selection and be expectant of quality service and performance in the months and years ahead.”
The breakdown of the 37 cabinet members which comprised 23 commissioners and 14 Special Advisers, has; Lawal Pedro, SAN (Justice and Attorney-General), Bolaji Dada (Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation), Akin Abayomi (Health) Tokunbo Wahab (Environment), Moruf Akinderu Fatai (Housing), Gbenga Omotoso (Information and Strategy), Ibrahim Layode (Home Affairs), Mobolaji Ogunlende (Youths and Social Development), Dayo Alebiosu-Bush (Waterfront Infrastructure), Abisola Olusanya (Agriculture), Gbenga Oyerinde (Special Duties), Toke Benson-Awoyinka (Tourism), Osiyemi Oluwaseun (Transportation).
Others are Tunbosun Alake (Innovation, Science and Technology), Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo (Establishment, Training and Pension), Kayode Bolaji Roberts (Local Government Affairs), Mosopefoluwa George (Economic Planning and Budget), Olumide Oluyinka (Physical Planning and Urban Development), Abayomi Samson Oluyomi (Finance), Folashade Ambrose-Medem (Industry, Trade and Investment), Jamiu Alli-Balogun (Basic Education), Akinyeri Bankole Ajigbotafe (Wealth Creations) and Tolani Sule Akibu (Tertiary Education)
The Special Advisers are; Sola Giwa (Transportation), Rotimi Fashola (Agriculture), Abiola Olowu (Commerce, Industry and Investment), Olajide Babatunde (eGIS), Idris Aregbe (Tourism), Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya (Health), Adekunle Olayinka (Works and Infrastructures), AbdulKabir Opeyemi Ogungbo (Taxation and Pension), Bola Olumegbon (Central Business District, CBD), Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu (Environment), Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen (Political Education and Civic Engagement), Barakat Odunuga-Bakare (Housing), Yekini Nurudeen Agbaje (Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Iyabode Oyeyemi Ayoola (Central Internal Audit).
