Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday held his inaugural meeting with the Body of Permanent Secretaries in the State Public Service, reiterating that the State civil service will drive the change and the continuity which he intends to put in place in the next four years. The Governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa said he intends to strengthen the Civil Service and continue with the reforms through which he will carry out his policies.
He urged the Permanent Secretaries who are the administrative heads of the ministries to see themselves as front runners of the present administration adding that he would take advantage of the experience he had gathered as a retired public servant.
He said new offices would be created just as some present ones would be streamlined in order to ensure that cost of governance is reduced while ensuring greater efficiency.
“Part of my speech at my inauguration ceremony yesterday dwelt on the creation of a Ministry of Wealth Creation which would ensure that not only do we create wealth but ensure that when investments from foreign sources drops, a pro-active situation is in place to take care of them” the Governor said. He said since the APC has already formed a government at the centre, investments are also bound to drop from the centre and that when such investments come, the state should have a front desk office that would attend to such people bringing in the investments or people with interest to bring them in.
The Governor, who also spoke on a revisitation of ministerial responsibilities of all ministries, departments, and agencies said that the ministerial responsibilities were last reviewed in 2001. Governor Ambode stressed that he would saddle the Body of Permanent Secretary with the task of taking a look at the draft which the administration of Fashola could not conclude work on and which he has gone through but streamlined according to his vision. He said with what he has in mind, some agencies would be returned to their original supervising agencies to ensure that the control which used to be in place for those agencies returns.
He explained that he would ensure that Permanent Secretaries exercise the authority that comes with their positions efficiently and ensure that each officer works for the position he has attained. The Governor insisted that his latest pronouncements are not about reinventing the will but just about his taking full advantage of the experience he had garnered while in the Public Service of Lagos State. “I would not be reinventing the will with my pronouncements, but just taking full advantage of the experience I have garnered while working the public service of Lagos State”, he added.
He also informed that in order to ensure effectiveness in his operations, he would be residing at the Lagos House, Alausa, saying that what this means is that he would be available from his desk at 8am daily. While advising the public servants to align with his administration, Governor Ambode said he expects all public servants to also be at their desk by 8am so that if he has cause to get in touch with anyone, they would be readily available.
The Governor who also spoke on the shape his style of administration would take, said for him, he expects the protocol to be as simple as possible which would also convey the essence of seriousness and professionalism that would be the hallmark of the administration.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello and the Chief of Staff, Mr Olukunle Ojo and all the Permanent Secretaries and Tutors General in the State Public service.