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Lagos gets 12 new permanent secretaries

Twelve newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were on Monday admitted into the Body of Permanent Secretaries of Lagos State to fill the available vacancies in the State Civil Service.

Selected from among the over 50 senior officers who sat for the qualifying exams, the new Permanent Secretaries join their colleagues to bring the number of these accounting officers in the State to 54.

Swearing in the PS, Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN charged them not to see their new appointment as a promotion but an appointment to lead.

The Governor, who spoke at the Executive Council Chambers of the Lagos House, Ikeja, described the appointment as a very important call to leadership at a time when the society, community and nation and indeed the world faces a serious leadership challenge.

“You would be expected to provide leadership in the various ministries that you would lead as accounting officers and you would be expected to have a firm grip of those ministries, departments and agencies that reports and responds to you”, he stated.

He also charged the new appointees to take time to reflect on the two oaths of office that they took, the Oath of Secrecy and the Oath of Allegiance stressing that they are very important because it will help quickly dimension the responsibilities that they have undertaken.

“Before us you have sworn to treat all manner of people fairly, not to discriminate against persons who come to you because your duty is to serve the public irrespective of what you may think about them. So long as they qualify in the condition set for service, they must get service. It is not in your place to choose who get service, you must render the service”, he added.

He also reminded them that they also swore before the people and before God to eschew corruption, reiterating that in dealing with the problem of corruption in the country, the focus has been on the monetary side of corruption.

“If you look at the definition of corruption, it is not just an illegal act for pecuniary purpose; it is also gaining undeserved and undue advantage. And these are things that you must avoid; you must avoid partisanship because if I did not avoid them you probably would not be standing here”.

“We have acted on merit and you must treat people on merit and on the basis of fairness and for me this is where friends, family and relations come in. Yes your relation has become a Permanent Secretary but it is not a family trophy. It is not for personal but for public service. And this is the first thing I would advise, do not help make an already difficult job more difficult. Do not put needless pressure on them and do not have unrealistic expectation of things that they can do”.

“They are managers of a public trust and we expect them to do so in accordance with well laid down regulations, civil service regulations, financial guidelines etc. They would need your support; they would need your prayers. What they would not need from you is pressure for them to give you an advantage”, the Governor reiterated.

The Governor expressed the hope that by admonishing the new appointees and their siblings, the people will begin to develop a society where everybody would get a fair chance according to his ability and competence.

“The damage that has been done to our societal fabrics in terms of corruption is difficult to qualify. It has become a topical electoral issue. But I think we haven’t measured the unquantifiable damages. The ones that we cannot measure in terms of money, undue advantage, nepotism and so many other forms of corruption that has really limited our ability to the best that we can be”, he stated.

He reiterated that the civil service of Lagos State has shown that it is dealing with the challenges on a day to day basis and this explains why the Lagos State civil service is the service to beat in the Federal Republic, stressing that the standard must not drop.

The Governor said for all those who celebrate the appointment of women into positions as major achievements; it has become a way of life in Lagos to give appointment to women without any form of tokenism.

He expressed appreciation to the Immediate Past Head of Service, Mrs Oluseyi Williams who was responsible for coordinating the examinations, interviews and recommendations of the committee that screened the appointees, they constitute the toughest field of Permanent Secretaries that he has had to select from.

“The scores were very high and it wasn’t easy making the final shortlist of twelve. But I picked the best twelve from the cadres that they were representing. We also ensured that there was fairness across board while ensuring also that there was representation without in any way compromising merit”, he stated

While wishing the new appointees a successful tenure of office, the Governor described them as inheritors of a great legacy who must keep the torch alight by raising the bar of service, adding that they must also raise the bar of professionalism as well.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the Head of Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji, who also read the citation of each of the new appointees, thanked the State Governor, on behalf of members of the Standing Committee on Appointment of Permanent Secretaries for the confidence he reposed in them.

She added that the Committee salutes the Governor’s insistence on giving credence to exemplary performance and merit as some of the core criteria for elevation into appointive posts in the State Public Service.

While responding on behalf of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs Ebun Oladimeji thanked the Governor for sticking to merit in his choice of the new Permanent Secretaries.

She said the new appointees would not disappoint the Governor but would strive to also raise the bar in terms of their performance in their individual, ministries, agencies and departments.

The twelve new Permanent Secretaries made of six male and six female include TPL ADEDIRAN Joseph Ayodele who was born on 30th October, 1956. He holds a Full Professional Diploma in Town Planning (1984) and Bachelor Science (Honours) degree in Business Administration (1993) and also possesses the Bachelor and Masters degrees in Law from the University of Lagos in 2002 and 2004 respectively.

He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Registered Member of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) TPL and until this appointment, TPL Joseph Ayodele Adediran was the Director and Head of the Regional and Master Plan Department in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Engr. ADENEKAN Ayodeji Adebayo was born on 9th December, 1958 and holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Mechanical Engineering (1980) from the University of Ibadan and Master of Business Administration (1998) from the University of Lagos respectively and joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 1981.

 A Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Registered Member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engineer Adebayo Adenekan was the Director and Head of the Mechanical Services Department as well as the Coordinating Director, Office of Works.

Arc. DIPE, Foluso Adebayo was born on 29th October, 1961 and holds the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (1982) and Master of Environmental Designs in Architecture (1984) from the University of Lagos Akoka. A Member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and Registered Member of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Arc. Dipe joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 1986 as Architect Grade I.

He has taken part in the design and supervision of a number of landmark projects, which include the EKO FM Studios and Office Complex, the Lagos State Secretariat Hall and the Oba Adeyinka II Housing Estate, Lekki among others. Until his elevation to the post of a Permanent Secretary, Arc. Foluso Adebayo DIPE was the Director and Head of Architectural and Building Services Department in the Ministry of Housing.

Dr. LONGE, Jemilade Adegoriola Rotimi was born on 17th August 1958. He holds the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) 1984 after his Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Health Sciences in 1980 from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife. In addition, he has two Masters Degrees from the University of Lagos; these are Master of Public Health (2000) and Master of Business Administration with specialization in Finance (2009) respectively and joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 1991 as a Senior Medical Officer.

A member of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Longe has served in a number of strategic deployments which include Project Manager of the Health Systems Development Project, which was World Bank/ African Development Bank Assisted Project and Director, Family Health and Nutrition among others. Until his latest appointment, Dr. Jemilade Longe was the Director and Head of the Disease Control Department in the Ministry of Health.

Mrs. OGUNMOLA, Omobolanle Modinat (nee ARE) was born on 21st April, 1960. She holds the Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from the University of Ibadan in 1983 and 1986 respectively. A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mrs. Ogunmola started her Public Service Career as a Master Grade II in the defunct Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission in 1985 and transferred her service to Lagos State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission in 1991. In 1997, she was accorded an Inter-Cadre Transfer into the mainstream Civil Service as an Administrative Officer. Until this appointment, Mrs. Omobolanle Modinat Ogunmola was the Director (Human Resource and Administration) in the Civil Service Commission.

(vi) Mrs. OGUNNAIKE, Folasade Oluwatosin (nee OLOWA) was born on 9th August, 1957 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in English Language from the University of Ibadan in 1978 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the University of Lagos in 1981 respectively. A member of the Nigerian Institute for Training and Development (NITAD),

Mrs. Ogunnaike started her Public Service Career with the defunct Lagos State Schools Management Board in 1979 before crossing to the mainstream Civil Service in 1983 and between 1983 and 1991, she served in various Agencies. She also garnered private sector experience between 1991 and 2004 before returning to the Civil Service in 2005 as Assistant Director. An astute administrator and fore liner in women and gender issues, Mrs. Ogunnaike was, until her appointment as Permanent Secretary, the Director and Head of Women Affairs Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

(vii)      Mrs. OLADIMEJI, Grace Ebunola (nee OSHO) was born 31st May, 1957. She holds the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) History from the University of Ife in 1980 as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (1984) and Master of Public Administration (2003) from the University of Lagos. A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (CIPM), Mrs. Oladimeji joined Lagos State Teaching Service as Master Grade II in 1981 and later transferred to the mainstream Civil Service as Administrative Officer Grade VIII in 1986. 

A thorough-bred Administrative Officer, she introduced the issuance of registration forms and certificates for consultants during her tour of service as the Secretary, State Consultancy Board. Until this appointment, Mrs. Grace Ebunola Oladimeji was the Director, Finance and Administration in the Ministry of Education.

(viii) Mrs. ONABOLU Folake Folashade (nee OLAWOYIN) was born on 11th September, 1957. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Ife in 1979; she dwelt into the acquisition of professional certificates in Accounting and Taxation. Today, asides being a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation, Mrs. Onabolu is the first female Certified Forensic Accountant and the first to obtain the instant certificate across the entire Public Services in Nigeria.

After her over two decades stint in the private sector, Mrs. Folake Onabolu joined the Lagos State Civil Service in 2002 as an Assistant Director of Accounts. Over time, she has been commended for the painstaking dexterity she demonstrated in the course of duty. Until her elevation to the prestigious status of Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Folake Folashade Onabolu was the Director and Head of Accounts Department in the Ministry of Education.

(ix) Mr. SALAMI, Nurudeen Mabayoje was born on 16th October, 1958. A holder of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Political Science (1980), Bachelor of Laws (2005) and Master of Laws (2014) all from the University of Lagos; He is also a Barrister at Law who joined the Lagos State Civil Service as an Higher Executive Officer (General Duties) in 1982 and was converted to the Administrative Officer cadre in 1986.

Apart from his robust tour of duty, Mr. Salami has served as Secretary to several Committees in the State Civil Service. These include the Task Force set up in 1993 on Traffic Decongestion in Lagos and the Working Committee on the Establishment of the Lagos State Safety Commission. Before this appointment, Mr. Nurudeen Mabayoje Salami was the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the Chief of Staff.

(x)        Mr. SANUTH Jafar Babatunde Adewole was born on 26th December, 1959. He holds the Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics (1984) from the then University of Ife and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (1997) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Mr. Sanuth started his Public Service Career in 1988 in the World Bank Assisted Lagos State Agricultural Development Project (ADP) as an Evaluation Officer and rose to the position of Assistant Director (Planning) in 2004. He had his service transferred to the mainstream civil service in 2005 and had served as the Director of Planning in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Economic Researcher in the LASG/ILD Informal Sector Reform Programme. Until his appointment as a Permanent Secretary, Mr. Jafar Babatunde Adewole SANUTH was the Director of Industry in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 

(xi)       Mrs. SONAME Aderinsola Abosede (nee OJUTIKU) was born on 8th July, 1956. A holder of the Bachelors of Science (Honours) in Chemistry (1979) and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (1988) from the University of Lagos, she joined the Lagos State Teaching Service in 1980 as a Master Grade II. A teacher and Education Administrator of note, Mrs. Soname, who is a member of the Institute of Professional Administrators of Nigeria, had served as an Inspector of Education and Local Administrator of Education in Mainland, Surulere, Mushin and Kosofe Zonal Offices before her deployment to Education District IV. Her last post before this appointment as Permanent Secretary/ Tutor-General was as the Director (Schools’ Administration). She also served as the Coordinating Director in charge of Education District IV since April 2014 after the retirement of the erstwhile Permanent Secretary/ Tutor-General.

Mrs. UMAR ABIMBOLA SHUKRAT (nee DOSUNMU) was born on 27th June, 1962. She is a holder of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Economics (1983) from the University of Ibadan and Masters of Science in Corporate Governance (2013) from Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Nigeria Economic Society respectively, Mrs. Umar also has Oracle Certification in e-business suite, General Ledger and Payroll Modules. She cut her teeth for over fifteen years in the private sector, particularly with the renowned KPMG (International) before joining the Lagos State Civil Service as Chief Accountant in 2002. She had also served as the Head of the Monitoring and Development Directorate (2002 – 2006) and Director and Head of the Centralized Payroll and Data Validation Directorate (2006 – 2012) in the State Treasury Office. Until this elevation to the post of Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Abimbola Shukrat UMAR was the Director and Head of the Financial Information Systems Directorate in the State Treasury Office.

The swearing in ceremony was witnessed by members of the State Executive Council including the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, former Heads of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe and Mrs Oluseyi Williams, retired Permanent Secretaries, members of the Body of Permanent Secretary, the members of the family of the new appointees and relatives. 

 

 

SIGNED

HAKEEM BELLO

SPECIAL ADVISER TO H.E ON MEDIA

MARCH 02, 2015

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