Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday swore in Sole Administrators for the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, warning them to avoid corruption.
Ambode told the appointees at the ceremony in Ikeja that it would no longer be business as usual as the people of the state and the government would be watching them.
He said that the government would not hesitate to remove any administrator who failed to serve the people diligently or abused the office.
“It will no longer be business as usual; rather, it will be a tough journey requiring character, leadership, commitment and resilience of those at the helm of affairs to actualise our dreams.
“Strict accountability must be your watchword. Lagosians will be watching you and we will be watching you too.
“Your appointment today as Sole Administrators should therefore be seen as a call to service of our people.
“You are relay runners on a journey of reform that will ultimately culminate in the election of accountable people that will carry on the baton of good governance for our people.
“For the duration of your race, I urge you to run the race efficiently with diligence so you do not betray the trust that has been placed in you,” Ambode said.
The governor said that a strict monitoring, control and feedback process would be put in place to ensure that there were no excesses or excuses.
He enjoined the appointees to make a difference to the lives of the people, share in their joys and pain, and reside among them.
“It is only through this symbiotic relationship that we can truly say we have begun to understand and serve our people,” Ambode said.
According to him, his administration is committed to local government reforms and is working hard to meet the yearnings of the people at the grassroots by providing them with basic amenities.
“We are dedicated to this and will deliver on our promise of a government of inclusion where no one is left behind,” he said.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, said the appointment was one of the steps aimed at preparing the Local Government Areas for the subsequent holding of elections.
Mr Sanya Osinjo, the Sole Administrator, Bariga LCDA, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the governor and reassured him that they would carry out their duties diligently.
The Sole Administrators had been appointed by the governor on Saturday following his dissolution of the Caretaker Committees of the Councils.
It followed a resolution of the State House of Assembly that the previous local government committees be dissolved and Sole Administrators appointed in their place.
NAN
