The Lagos State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has charged the recently appointed Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers of Agencies in the State Public Service to see their positions as trust and responsibilities that come with high expectations, just as he expressed optimism that, individually and collectively, they will justify the confidence reposed in them by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in appointing them.

Speaking as the Chief Host at an online induction ceremony organised for them through Zoom, the HoS noted that as highly experienced senior public servants and Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), they should realise that the responsibilities of providing leadership and direction for the MDAs rests squarely on their shoulders, adding that the induction ceremony is aimed at familiarising them with the nature, character and demands of the Offices they are already managing.

Muri-Okunola, however, charged them to be proactive in discharging their duties, saying that the Commissioners, Special Advisers and others look forward to them for necessary advice and guidance on issues relating to the mandate of their respective MDAs, just as the senior management members and other officers look up to them for leadership in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities on daily basis.

He stressed that they should realise that their actions, decisions, comments, utterances and directives have far-reaching implications, not only on the principles of State policies and activities, but on the lives of all members of staff.

In his presentation on “The Role of Accounting Officers in the Actualisation of Assignment of Ministerial Responsibilities”, Mr. Bashir Braimoh, one of the facilitators and former Permanent Secretary (Public Service Office), implored the inductees to effectively manage the resources committed to their care in order to achieve the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the present administration.

He also enjoined them to embrace multi-sectoral synergy approach and be abreast with all the functions, processes as well as procedures of governance in order to enhance productivity and service delivery to the populace.