All eyes are on you, Ambode tells new HoS

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday swore in Mrs Folashade Adesoye as the 20th Head of Service, charging her to hit the ground running.

Ambode during the ceremony at the Lagos House, Alausa, told Adesoye that all eyes were on her to provide leadership and direction to the over 100,000 public servants in the state.

Our correspondent reports that Adesoye’s appointment followed the statutory retirement of the former head of service, Mrs Olabowale Ademola.

Adesoye was first appointed into the Lagos State Civil Service on Dec 28, 1983 as an Accountant and has served in several ministries.

It was reported that until her appointment as HoS, she was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Ambode said concerted efforts had been made to place the state civil service on a sound footing for proactive, innovative, selfless and technology-driven service delivery.

He urged Adesoye to use her office to galvanise civil servants to build on the gains already recorded.

“The success of your tenure will be assessed not by the efforts you are able to put in, but the tangible outcome in terms of improvements in the outlook and deliverables of the entire workforce.

“You are inheriting a public service that has, to a large extent, keyed into the vision and uncompromising principles of good governance of this administration.

“As one who is fully aware of our vision and policies, some of which you have helped to translate and implement, I expect that you will hit the ground running and make your mark,” Ambode said.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the appointee to add value to the public service and governance in general.

The governor said the appointment was another confirmation of the dynamic quality of both the service and civil servants in the state.

According to him, the minimum standard now acceptable is selfless service to the state and the people.

“You hold a strategic position to bring out the best in everyone from the Body of Permanent Secretaries down the ladder to the junior staff,” Ambode said.

Responding, Adesoye thanked Ambode for the opportunity given to her to serve, assuring that the public service, under her watch, would redouble efforts in ensuring speedy, efficient and effective implementation of government policies and initiatives.

She pledged total commitment to the duties and responsibilities of the new office, promising that she would do everything within her capacity to justify the confidence reposed in her.