Agoro Assumes Office as 22nd Lagos Head of Service

Mr. Olabode Shuaeeb Agoro, yesterday, formally stepped into office as the 22nd Head of Service (HOS) of the Lagos State Civil Service, succeeding Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who voluntarily resigned last September after about five years inthe saddle.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu superintended the event, where the 56-year-old Agoro took the oath before members of the State Executive Council, House of Assembly lawmakers, Body of Permanent Secretaries and political leaders.

Also, Heads of State Government’s parastatals, retired Heads of Service, state employees in different cadres and traditional rulers thronged the Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa, where the ceremony to usher in the new Lagos public service’s helmsman was held.

Following administration of the oath, Agoro performed his first official assignment, getting the Governor’s approval for the long-sought request of a 500 per cent increase in the Car Refurbishment Loan Scheme for the state employees.

Workers responded to the news with spontaneous celebration. The welfare scheme heralded the arrival of a new sheriff in the Lagos State public service.

Sanwo-Olu described civil service as “a resource centre” of the government, likening public service to a wheel that keeps governance and the government running.

The governor congratulated the new HOS, noting that the constitution entrusted the office of the Head of Service with “enormous” responsibilities to provide direction and leadership for the public workforce.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, urged Agoro to dedicate himself to the task of governance and work to build on the achievements of his predecessors.

He said: “Office of the Head of Service, in a cosmopolitan State like Lagos, carries a lot of responsibility. This is so, because government relies significantly on the public service for the implementation of policies and programmes.

“Lagos public service has a great reputation of competence among its peers, but there is still so much to be done in order to continuously raise the bar of professionalism, and to ensure prompt, effective and efficient service delivery that meet global standards,” he said.