Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has prohibited the 57 newly sworn-in local government chairmen from selecting Secretary to Local Governments (SLGs) and supervisory councillors.
This decision has stirred uncertainty across the councils, especially as certain individuals had been promised key roles during the election campaigns. The governor’s stance has now left those expectations unmet.
Sanwo-Olu made this announcement immediately after administering the oath of office to the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 57 local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The ceremony was held at the Sports Ground, Lagos House in Ikeja.
He advised them to spend the next 30 to 60 days settling in and getting acquainted with the needs of their communities.
The state government, he stated, would notify the chairmen when it is appropriate to proceed with the appointments.
Nonetheless, he encouraged them to appoint Chiefs of Staff to help coordinate daily operations.
He called on them to adopt an inclusive leadership style and place a high priority on the well-being of their constituents.
He assured them that Lagos had maintained its commitment to local government autonomy and urged the chairmen to exercise their new authority responsibly and transparently.
The governor stressed that underperformance would not be tolerated and warned that anyone who failed to uphold the public’s trust would be held to account.
He highlighted that Nigeria was now entering a new phase of local government autonomy, with fiscal and administrative independence upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to him, chairmen now have direct access to their councils’ funds, which demands direct accountability. He emphasized that there would be no room for excuses or blame-shifting.
“Use this autonomy wisely. Guard it with transparency. Let your tenure reflect not political entitlement, but public responsibility. Leadership must never be about personal gain; it must be about public impact,” he said.
He described their victory at the polls as a call to serve and lead selflessly, encouraging them to be bold, open, and answerable to those they serve.
He stated that the strength of Lagos lies in the effectiveness of its 57 local councils and encouraged the new chairmen to lead with purpose and empathy, prioritizing service over ambition.
He said: “The people have placed in your hands not just votes, but their dreams. Their expectations are clear: better roads, safer streets, functioning health centres, thriving schools, modern markets, environmental sanitation, youth engagement, and community security. These are not abstractions; they are daily necessities. And your performance will be measured not by the eloquence of your speeches, but by the visibility of your actions.”
He added that Lagos is relying on them to bring development to all parts of the state. He urged them to actualize the THEMES+ agenda of his administration in their domains. He emphasized the need to implement impactful projects in areas such as Transportation, Health, Education, Environment, Security, and Social Inclusion, ensuring that rural and underserved communities feel the presence of the government.
He stated: “Your success is our success. The state government stands firmly with you. We will support you. We will work with you. But we will also hold you to the highest standards.”
Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, noted that the emergence of the new chairmen at the polls reflected their acceptance by the people and reinforced the need to improve governance at the grassroots level.
He commended the governor for his dedication to grassroots democracy, pointing out that the administration provided the structure for a peaceful, transparent, and credible local government election.
Speaking on behalf of the new chairmen, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Sesan Olowa, thanked the governor and the people of Lagos for the platform to serve.
Olowa, who was later chosen as Chairman of Conference 57, pledged on behalf of his colleagues to uphold the values of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and deliver meaningful governance.
“We will uphold the values of the APC and ensure development touches every ward and community under our care,” he said.
Present at the event were Governor Sanwo-Olu’s wife, Ibijoke; Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Hamzat; members of the State Executive Council; Speaker Mudasiru Obasa and members of the State House of Assembly; National Assembly members; Governance Advisory Council led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi; APC Lagos Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi; traditional rulers; former council chairmen led by Kolade Alabi; market leaders; party loyalists and supporters of the council chairmen.
BIG STORY2 days ago
BIG STORY5 days ago
BIG STORY4 days ago
BIG STORY5 days ago
BIG STORY2 days ago
BIG STORY4 days ago
BIG STORY2 days ago
BIG STORY1 day ago