Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Thursday, appointed a former Head of Service in the state, Mrs Folasade Jaji, as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The is contained in a statement by the Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, on Thursday in Lagos.
Jaji, a chemist, had served as the 17th Head of Service of the state’s Public Service.
She joined the 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 for two years, between 1980 and 1982.
She is the 18th Secretary to the State Government.
The statement said that full details about the appointment would come later.
Sanwo-olu also declared a state of emergency on environmental, sanitation and traffic management matters in the state.
He declared this while signing the first executive order of refuse management, traffic management and public works on Thursday at the Lagos House, Alausa.
This, according to the governor, will start the process of restoring stability and a culture of accountability in which all the citizens become active stakeholders in bringing about the necessary changes.
“As from the date of this order, there shall be zero tolerance for environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, construction on drainage points and setbacks,” he said.
According to him, all LASTMA officials shall effectively carry out their functions by ensuring strict enforcement and compliance with all extant traffic rules and regulations.
He said the LASTMA officials would immediately begin work on a shift basis in which road and traffic management operations would be on till 11 pm on a daily basis.
Sanwo-Olu said that the Lagos State Public Works Corporation would immediately commence the identification and repairs of all potholes and bad roads within the state.
He also said provisions of the order would extend to all enforcement agencies in the state, in maintaining law and order for the collective good of the citizens.
“I expect the fullest level of compliance with this order and will look to the various heads of ministries, departments and agencies to give full force and effect to the orders therein contained and to take responsibility for any failure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lagos civil servants, on Thursday, accorded Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, a rousing welcome as they resumed work at the state Secretariat, Alausa on their first working day after being sworn-in.
Civil servants at various ministries had gathered outside their offices ahead of the arrival of the duo.
Posters and banners with inscriptions such as: “A new dawn”, “Welcome”, “Now a new Lagos Begins”, were displayed at the various ministries.
The duo, on arrival, visited the Ministry of the Environment attached to the Ministry of Physical Panning and Urban Dvelopment, and Lands Bureau, about 10.30a.m.
Addressing the workers, Sanwo-Olu charged them to rededicate themselves to service and have absolute commitment to the development agenda of the government.
According to him, civil servants play fundamental roles in the success of every administration and should be encouraged.
He urged workers to reciprocate such gesture through hard work and dedication to duty, so as to attract more interventions from the government.
“I am excited to be here this morning. We decided to come here first because of the critical arm you control here.
“The environment, the lands department, physical planning, Surveyor-General’s office, these are the critical things that people are asking us to work better on.
“So, we will from Day 1 say to Lagosians that new things should begin to happen.
“Yes, there are issues, there will be issues, there will be challenges, but out of it, looking at all your faces, you cannot all afford at this time to fail the citizens.
“So, my charge is this: whatever we know that we are not doing too well, even in the period of Ramadan, let us ask God for forgiveness.
“Let us turn a new leaf and let us be that change that we are asking for.
“I know that when we take care of you, you will take care of Lagosians. So, those are the promises I want to draw from all of you.
“I know the challenges you face, but let us begin to think and innovate how we are going to bake a bigger cake.
“Let us begin to think out of the box,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu assured the workers that issues around the minimum wage would be sorted out in earnest.
“I will ensure your take home will be taking you home, but Lagosians have to feel you from day to day, and from the way we speak to them, the way we take their records.
“Henceforth, we should reflect it,” he said.
The governor and his deputy, thereafter, toured the Secretariat.
