Sanwo-Olu assigns portfolios to commissioners, demands diligence

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, asked the newly appointed commissioners and special advisers to do their best to meet high expectations of residents.

Sanwo-Olu, who congratulated the new appointees, maintained that the expectations of the residents have never been as high as they are now.

“Doing your best to meet them is, therefore, not an option. It is the least you will be expected to do. Lagos is the Centre of Excellence; your work must be excellent in every ramification.”

Sanwo-Olu said he disagreed with the notion that the rejection of the commissioners-nominee by the House of Assembly was as a result of hiccups between the executive and the legislature.

The governor said: “Let me go further to say that I am not unaware of the feelings in some quarters that the initial rejection of some nominees by the Lagos State House of Assembly, necessitating the submission of a revised list of nominees, signified a call to arms between the Executive and the Legislature. I reject such feelings in totality.

“Were the Executive designed to be omnipotent and omniscient, the very important oversight function of the Legislature will be needless.

“Thankfully, our Constitution recognises that our people will be best served with a system of checks and balances that is led by independent bodies in each arm of government. This system demands collaboration, and a willingness to give and take without rancour. That is what the Executive and Legislature of Lagos State, in the past few weeks, have fully demonstrated in arriving at this event today.”

The governor at an elaborate ceremony listed the portfolios of the commissioner and special adviser as follows: Lawal Mohammed Pedro (SAN)-Attorney General and Chief Justice; Prof. Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health; Wahab Adetokunbo, Commissioner for Environment; Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Commissioner for Housing; Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Layode Ibrahim, Commissioner for Home Affairs; Bolaji Cecilia Dada, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA); and Olusanya Abisola Ruth, Commissioner for Agriculture.

Also in the list are: Abayomi Oluyomi, Commissioner for Finance; Ayantayo Afolabi Waheed, Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions; Oyerinde Olugbenga, Commissioner for Special Duties; Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, Commissioner for Tourism; Ogunlende Mobolaji Abubakar, Commissioner for Youths and Social Development; and Yakub Ekundayo Alebiosu, Commissioner for Waterfront.

The list also includes: Mosopefoluwa George, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget; Olatunbosun Alake, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.

Other appointees are Dr. Fashola Rotimi, Special Adviser Agriculture; Bolaji Kayode Roberts, Commissioner for Local Government, Engr. Adeyinka Lukmon, Special Adviser Work; Dr. Finnih Awokoya Oreoluwa, Special Adviser Health; Dr. Iyabo Ayoola Oyeyemi, Special Adviser Central internal Audit; Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, Special Adviser, SA EGIS and Urban Planning; Alli-Balogun Jamiu Adedeji, Commissioner for Basic Education; Rotimi Akodu Oladosu, Special Adviser, Environment; Ogungbo Abdul-Kadir Opeyemi, Special Adviser Taxation and Revenue; Aregbe Olayiwola Idris, Special Adviser Tourism; Lawal Bola Olumegbon, Special Adviser CBD;

Barakat Olawunmi Bakare, Special Adviser Housing; Osiyemi Oluwaseun, Commissioner for Transportation, Ambrose Folashade Kaosara-Bada, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment; Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, Commissioner for Physical planning; Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, Special Adviser, Political and Civic Engagement; Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, Commissioner for Wealth creation; Dr. Nurudeen Yekini-Agbaje Lanre, Special Adviser Rural Development and chieftaincy affairs; Tolani Sule Akibu, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Sola Giwa, Special Adviser Transport and Engr. Moshood Olowu, Special Adviser Commerce, Industry and Investment.