With the swearing of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commissioners, it is now expected that the business of governance that has been at slow pace in Lagos State, will gather momentum to meet the high expectations of residents and other stakeholders.

In the composition of this year’s commissioners and special advisers, there were, however, some departures from the trend of the past.

With the state executive and the legislature of the same political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), it was expected that the screening of the commissioner-nominees would be a smooth ride, as it used to be. Many expected that it would follow in the pattern of the past where the House of Assembly’s consideration of the list was just a formality to be followed because of the constitutional provision.

But the Assembly broke away from the past, rejecting a number of nominees amid protest from sections of the society that the list was not truly inclusive, along religious and ethnic lines.

Many, however, felt the Assembly was not altruistic in the rejection of some nominees on the first list that was sent to the assembly, especially those that returned.

After a back and forth process, a list of 38 nominees was confirmed with over 10 persons rejected. And Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu eventually inaugurated the commissioners and special advisers on Wednesday.

The governor listed the portfolios of the commissioner and special adviser to include Lawal Mohammed Pedro (SAN) – Attorney General and Commissioner for 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); Olusanya Abisola Ruth, Commissioner for Agriculture; 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; Yakub Ekundayo Alebiosu, Commissioner for Waterfront; Mosopefoluwa George, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget; Olatunbosun Alake, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology; Dr. Fashola Rotimi, Special Adviser Agriculture; Bolaji Kayode Roberts, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, and Engr. Adeyinka Lukmon, Special Adviser Works in the office of the deputy governor.

Others were 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; Barr. 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 and Employment; 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 Industry, Trade and Investment.

Sanwo-Olu brought back the memory of the rejection of some nominees mid way into his speech, when he said he needed to dispel the notion that the two arms used the nominees screening to flex muscles.

He 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.”

The governor did not end there, he instructed the new commissioners and special advisers to cooperate and collaborate with the state assembly.

However, the set of the 2023 to 2027 commissioners and special advisers started the race without the governor appointing a Commissioner for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. But two days after, the governor shuffled the cabinet, announcing the special adviser on trade and investment as new SA Energy and Ministry Resources and SA Health as SA Social Development Goals.

Also, in the past, the Ministry of Work has operated without a commissioner. At least on two occasions, the ministry has been headed by a special adviser, who reports to the governor. This time around too the ministry would be headed by a special adviser who will be reporting to the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, a one-time commissioner in the ministry.

It was gathered that the major reason the immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, did not return was her failure to report to the deputy governor.

Furthermore, it is also the first time in a long while since the return to democracy in 1999 that persons from outside south west did not make the executive council. In the past, someone each from the south east, north and south-south usually made the list, but not this time around.

Some weeks back, the state government announced a rejig in three ministries in terms of nomenclature. For instance, the Ministry of Education was split into two – Ministry of Basic Education and Ministry of Tertiary Education. While announcing executive council member portfolios, Sanwo-Olu announced a Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment. What existed before now was a Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Cooperatives.

Many were also surprised that Tokunbo Wahab, who did very well as the Special adviser to Sanwo-Olu on Education in charge of tertiary institutions and allied institutions during the first time was moved to the Ministry of Environment. There had been insinuations Wahab influenced the upgrade of the Office of Special Adviser on Education to that of a full and stand alone Ministry of Tertiary Education.

Sanwo-Olu charged the new commissioners: “The expectations of our people have never been higher than they are right 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.

“Working together, carrying the people along, keeping your feet on the ground, and ensuring that every decision you take has the best interest of our people at the heart of it, are the surest ways to succeed. May God guide you in the effective discharge of your onerous responsibilities.”

Speaking on his expectations for governance in Lagos as the commissioners and special advisers assume office, a resident, Comrade Micheal Sewanu, said that he expects synergy and defining their official objectives for their ministries.

He added that industrial taxes should be reviewed while the private sectors that are into manufacturing and production should be encouraged by tax reductions, total or minimal charges on company levies and excess levies and taxes should also be checked and controlled.

“Road infrastructure and drainages should be given premium attention to alleviate transportation hitches and movement of persons, goods and services.

“All the commissioners should make themselves readily available to the people’s yearnings and requests whether or not the governor is available or not.

“Allocations, emoluments and funds earmarked for the general welfare of the citizens should be expended on the right course and should not be diverted for personal aggrandizement.”

He further said that transparency, integrity and responsibility should be top-notch so the people could develop more confidence and trust in the government of the day. “This will in turn make the people feel government presence and its accrued democratic dividends.”

A civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, said that land grabbing activities are on the increase in the state because of the connivance of some highly placed persons within the government, who are aiding and abetting the perpetrators. He, however, hopes there would be change with the new cabinet.

He maintained that the crime in the real estate is huge and the state government needs to fully activate the land grabbing law with sanctions fully enforced no matter highly placed the person involved.

In the health sector, he suggested that the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) should be strengthened, especially creating additional flagship PHCs, because the available ones are overstretched.

He called for improved care for residents with regulatory agencies constantly visiting for oversight. He also suggested improved relationship between the commissioners and the staff, especially management staff, through constant engagement and not contracting out responsibilities where there are personnel within that have the skill sets.He said that members of the team in the ministry should be engaged for the execution of tasks, as well as regular meeting with members of staff for insight.

For Mr. Edidi Shamsudeen Ayodeji, an engineer, there is need to evaluate the present waste management process, including looking at the possibility of evacuating wastes at night and not only during the day alone.

He asked the Ministry of Housing to work on constructing truly low cost housing units like former Governor Lateef Jakande. He also said that many of the state and local council roads were deplorable because they are not maintained. “As a boy in the 60s, I lived off Muritala Road, and on a regular basis, the road was resurfaced, but now when government constructs roads, it looks like the road is for a lifetime. On many roads, there would be varied sizes of potholes, while the big ones are fixed, the small ones are left to degenerate until they become big, it should not be.”

In education, he suggested the immediate rehabilitation of schools, employment of more teachers, instructional aids and facilities for adequate learning and teaching. He also said that monitoring of teachers should be improved.

On her part, the Convener, Societal Concerns, Ambassador Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi, said that if the executive arm will be accountable for their actions to implement policies, the legislative must seat right and not business as usual.

She also said that there should be avenues for community engagement, noting that the gap between the community and the government is too wide.

“If they are concerned about the people, that gap must be bridged. The new commissioners should build a legacy for themselves.”

The Executive Director, Grassroots People And Gender Development Center (Grade), Vivian Ifeoma Emesowum, stated that the administration has a detailed development plan known as “THEMES Agenda,” which if properly embraced will transform the state to the mega-city that is truly desired.

“Looking at the functions of members of the State Assembly (SHoA), they are expected to perform major roles such as legislative and inquiry roles. With my experience with the house, the inquiry role is not properly carried out, especially on the performance of the agencies and it could certainly affect the delivery of their mandate.”
She appealed to the lawmakers to embrace this role, especially now that the commissioners have assumed office so as to achieve the THEMES agenda of the state.

The Programme Coordinator, Social and Economic Justice Advocacy, Utomi Jerome-Mario, expressed hope that the new commissioners will build on the sustainable development mindedness in the state.

“I am particularly not happy with the socioeconomic burden the states quest for development has placed on Lagosians particularly the poor and vulnerable.

“Beginning with education, the incoming state executive council must look for a creative way of providing Lagosians with quality and affordable education delivered in a conducive environment. They should also make effort to provide portable water to Lagosians. It is not in any way a good commentary that a state like Lagos that prides itself as state of aquatic splendor cannot provide portable water to her residents.

“In the area of health, successive administrations have tried but the incoming commissioners should expand health management in ways that will bring primary healthcare provision to the people at the grass root.“It is urgent for the state to unlearn the practice of forced evictions. That slums exist in Lagos is a failure of the state government.”