The Governor of Lagos State, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has on Tuesday sworn in chairmen for local government areas and local council development areas in the state.
The chairmen and their vice-chairmen took the oath at a ceremony held in the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Governor urged the LGs and LCDAs to justify their autonomy by initiating people-oriented policies and programmes, which must focus on improving the lives and livelihood of citizens at the grassroots.
This is as he said the administrative and financial autonomy being enjoyed by LGAs and LCDAs for almost two decades is to achieve a bottom-up growth model for the acceleration of coordinated development across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, days after the All Progressives Congress swept all chairmanship seats across the 57 local councils.
Akosile quoted Sanwo-Olu as saying, “Today, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in local government administration in Lagos State. A resounding statement has been made, once again, that Lagos is APC, and that the people of Lagos continue to regard our party as the most viable and most credible political choice for the most populous State and biggest subnational economy in the country. We consider this overwhelming support as a vote of confidence in our administration and our great party, and it will never be taken for granted.
“I congratulate the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen across all the LGAs and LCDAs. Your victory is an affirmation of trust in your competence, capacity and capability to discharge the responsibility of the Office you are stepping into. Being the closest tier of Government to the people, any gap or shortcoming in administration will be keenly felt by the people. As a result, your policies and programmes must be people-oriented, focusing on how to improve the lives and livelihood of the people at the grassroots.”
Sanwo-Olu also praised members of the APC Local Government Election Committee, led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the party executive members, led by state Chairman, Hon. Tunde Balogun, for delivering on the mandate entrusted to them.
Commending the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), led by Justice Ayotunde Philips (Rtd), the Governor said the umpire had continued to live up to its responsibility and duties as enshrined in the law establishing it.
He said, “My commendation also goes to all our people, the civic-minded people of Lagos State, who conducted themselves peacefully and responsibly, before, during and after the elections. I want to particularly thank you all for keeping faith with our great party.”
