Civil servants are backbone of governance – Ambode 

 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, describing the civil service as the backbone of governance, has pledged his commitment to ensuring that the Lagos State civil service remains the best in the country.

Ambode at the swearing in of Lola Are-Adegbite as the new tutor general/permanent secretary of Education District 4, which held at the State House, Ikeja, saying “the smooth running of governance lies with the civil service.”

He said the permanent secretaries as heads of the various ministries and agencies of government had ably carried out the task of governance, even in the absence of the state executive council.

“Like I have always said, the bull work of success is really in the civil service. What we have done in the last four months is to set up the institutional framework that will drive the business of government.

“The permanent secretaries have proven in the last four months that even without a cabinet, the business of government can actually be done and this is worthy of commendation,” he said.

He reiterated his commitment to ensure that merit and professionalism would be the major consideration in making appointments, just as he affirmed that Are-Adegbite’s engagement was based on her antecedents over the years.

“I am happy that you are joining a winning team, I am also happy that at least prior to this ceremony, you have proven yourself already in the last four weeks, so we are glad that we did not make a mistake. We know strongly that whatsoever it is that you are going to do in the next few years, it is going to contribute to the development of Lagos State,” he said.

Earlier, Adesina Odeyemi, permanent secretary in the Public Service Office, noted that the swearing in of Are-Adegbite was in line with Section 208 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, following the retirement of Soname Aderinsola as tutor general/permanent secretary of Education District 4, last month.