Fashola Swears In 57 Executive Secretaries

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday swore in 57 executive secretaries to direct the affairs of the state’s 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas. Fashola presided over the ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa.

Agency reports the event was witnessed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, families of the new appointees as well as party chieftains and supporters.

The governor explained that the state could not conduct elections to replace the elected chairmen, whose tenure expired in October, due to the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule.

“While it is true that it is the State Independent Electoral Commission that is responsible for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the registers used for the election are those compiled by INEC.

“Compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the tenure of the chairmen and councillors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voter registration and that records were yet to be completed.

“This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity till the end of March.”

The governor said the appointment of the executive secretaries was not an electoral process, but an exercise of his prerogative as provided by the constitution to prevent a vacuum in grassroots governance.

Fashola said unlike in the past where sole administrators were appointed, the executive secretaries would work with four others.

To the new appointees, the governor urged them to focus on service delivery to the people.

“We expect you to focus on your primary responsibilities at the local government level. The first duty of any government is to secure lives and properties, so my first mandate to you is to go and integrate all members of your community, whatever part of Nigeria they come from, whatever religion they profess, whatever language they speak.

“After this, then you can go ahead with your subsequent responsibilities to improve the quality of primary healthcare, primary education, sanitation and do the roads that you can do within the limits of the funds that will be available to you.”

In their acceptance speeches, Omofunmilewa Adejombo (Agege), Jelili Sulaimon (Alimosho) and Princess Opeyemi Akindele (Mosan-Okunola), thanked the governor and party leaders for giving them the opportunity to serve.

Adejombo promised to be dedicated and committed to improving the standard of living of the people.

Sulaimon said he would introduce free feeding for primary school pupils in Alimosho.

Princess Akindele promised to work with INEC officials to ensure that eligible voters in her council collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Some of the newly sworn in Executive Secretaries include: Abayomi Daramola (Iru-Victoria Island); Ismail Bello (Coker Aguda); Sikiru Lawal (Ojo); Bola Olujobi (Oriade); Wale Azeez (Igando-Ikotun); Toyin Caxton-Martins (Ikoyi/Obalende); Princess Omolara Oyekan Olumegbon (Eti-Osa East); Mulikat Ajala (Itire-Ikate); Kunle Sanyaolu (Egbe-Idimu); Wahab Adigun (Ifelodun); Tajudeen Ojora (Ajeromi Ifelodun); Rasaq Kasali (Lekki); Habib Salami (Ibeju-Lekki); (Segun Jubril (Isolo), Fausat Hassan (Ojokoro); Moshood Abiola (Onigbongbo); Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu); Bayo Adebisi (Ikorodu North); Princess Aduni Oyefusi (Ikorodu West); Muyiwa Adesoya (Imota); Taiwo Orenuga (Igbogbo-Baiyeku); Toyosi Olusi (Lagos Island); Omotosho Lukman (Lagos Island East); Jide Bello (Mushin); and Rasak Ajala (Odi-Olowo).

Others include, Abiodun Oresanya (Somolu); Oyoke Yahaya (Iba); Alabi David (Bariga); Olajobi Dauda (Oshodi); Tajudeen Alabi (Ejigbo); Dele Hussain (Surulere); David Famuyiwa (Agbado Oke-Odo); Ahmed Seriki (Epe); and Ajibola Ojodu (Amuwo Odofin).