Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state on Thursday urged workers in the State to brace up and contribute their quota to the development of the State, saying that they cannot afford to fail Lagosians at this critical point.
Speaking at a meeting with Civil Servants and Permanent Secretaries during his familiarisation tour of offices in the Secretariat, Alausa, Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that there were challenges, but urged the workers not to be deterred and imbibe the right attitude to work.
Sanwo-Olu said: “I just want to say to Lagosians that new things will begin to happen. Yes, there are issues and that is why there is a word ‘issue’. There will be issues, there will be challenges but out of it, looking at all your faces, we cannot afford to fail the citizens at this period.
“So, my charge is this: whatever we know that we are not doing so well even in the period of Ramadan, let’s ask God for forgiveness.”
The Governor, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat and the Head of Service (HOS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola acknowledged the rousing welcome from Civil Servants and heads of parastatals who had gathered as early as 8a:m to receive him (the Governor).
Earlier, the HOS had introduced the Governor to the workers after which they accompanied him on a walk to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, where they sang different songs to his delight.
The Governor also advised the workers to be change agents, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed, but that the workforce must reciprocate his good intention through hard work and innovations to bring about the desired changes and development.
“I know that when we take care of you, you will take care of Lagosians and so those are the promises I want to draw from all of you.
I know all these because I have been here before but let us begin to think and innovate on how we are going to bake a bigger cake; let us begin to think out of the box and when we do that it becomes available for all,” the Governor said.
He gave assurance that issues surrounding the minimum wage would be addressed, promising to ensure that the take-home pay of workers will truly take them home.
“On the issue around the minimum wage, we are going to sort that out very soon and I will make sure that whilst we do the work that we are meant to do, your take home will begin to take you home, but Lagosians have to feel it from day one from the way we speak to them and from the way we take their records.”
…APPOINTS SSG
Sanwo-Olu, has named a former head of service in the state, Folasade Jaji, as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Jaji
Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, announced the appointment in a statement on Thursday.
Jaji joined Lagos State Civil Service on October 27, 1980 at the State Judicial Service Commission before she was deployed to the Governor’s Office, Department of Political Affairs where she served from 1980 and 1982.
She is the 18th Secretary to the State Government.