I have always referred to the Civil Service as the engine room of government; the place where government policies and programmes are distilled and implemented.

This engine room is very sensitive and requires not only skilled individuals but competent, committed and dedicated officers. This engine room must constantly be injected with new energy and drive from time to time to keep it running at full capacity and delivering on the good governance initiatives of the government.

The importance of the Civil Service as the engine room of the Government cannot be over emphasised. As our government works to fulfil our promises to Lagosians, our modest achievements would not have been possible without the support of the public service, most especially our Permanent Secretaries.

Our Permanent Secretaries are the Accounting Officers of the various Ministries and Departments and on their shoulders rest a lot of responsibilities.

Today, Six new Permanent Secretaries have just been sworn-in and I congratulate Dr. (Mrs) Concalves Titilayo Fausat; Mr. Kosoko Hakeem Adeyemi; Dr. (Mrs) Balogun Sherifat Bolajoko; Mr. Adeniji Segun Olufemi; Mrs. Adelaja Abosede Omobolanle and Dr. Lawal Lateef Temidayo on their elevation to the peak of their careers in the Civil Service.

You are all now at the head of the engine room of the Lagos State government and a lot is expected of you. You all got to this position by the dint of your hard work and dedication to the service of the State. This is not a time to rest on your achievements but rather to push further.

It is my belief that you will continue to contribute your quota to the development of the State and rededicate yourselves to the tenets of the public service reforms we have embarked on and prove to the rest of the service your justification for the new elevation.

I congratulate you all on your elevation and wish you all the best in your new assignments.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, lo je wa logun!