Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has charged all public servants to improve service delivery in order to achieve the Greater Lagos vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Muri-Okunola made the call in his address at the first work-day interdenominational prayer and thanksgiving session organised for Lagos State Public servants held physically and virtually, imploring them to work harder towards building the Lagos dream.
He commended the efforts and commitment in the past year and acknowledged that the quality of public service in Lagos State is second to none in Nigeria, declaring that the State government plans to implement new policies that would facilitate a more sustainable environment for a more dedicated and diligent workforce.
His words: “Your total support and commitment are vital to the present administration’s determination to reinvent a more sustainable future, accelerate socio-economic development, improve the healthcare delivery system and alternative medicine, as well as well implement policies that would facilitate a more sustainable environment”.
While noting that 2019-2021 was full of challenges for leaders all over the world, the HoS emphasised that no country or State was spared from the COVID-19 pandemic or related socio-economic, educational and security crises, including Lagos State.
“We must acknowledge and commend the State government’s efforts and commitment to combating the virus and ensuring its reduction to the barest minimum, while renewing public infrastructure Statewide and also implementing policies to improve the quality of public service across all sectors”, he asserted.
The Head of Service, therefore, enjoined all public servants to continue to exhibit the time-tested values, ethos and traditions of honesty, probity, transparency, integrity, hard work and service excellence that are all the hallmarks of the Lagos State Public Service, just as he reminded all workers that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world.
He added that all workers must continue to comply with existing safety protocols as laid down by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Lagos State Ministry of Health.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Samson Olusegun Ajibade, said the first workday of the year is a great opportunity to pray and appreciate God and as well hand over the affairs of State to him in the new year.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary and Tutor-General Education District I, Mrs. Margaret Solarin expressed delight that all public servants attended the event either physically or virtually to seek the face of God for direction in the new year.
In their contributions at the event, the Christian and Muslim clergy gave thanks to God for sparing the lives of civil servants and prayed for continued protection as well as guidance, good health, wealth and peace of mind.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Imam, Hakeem Kosoko; Presiding Chaplain of Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Venerable Ezekiel Oluwadare; Reverend (Dr.) Dele Ajayi (Chaplain) and Pastor Samson Kilanko, President of the Lagos State Public Service Christian Fellowship, all urged public servants to remain grateful and committed to God for being alive to witness the occasion.
