Ambode swears in 57 LG/LCDA Sole Administrators, warns against corruption

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on
Monday swore in Sole Administrators for the
57 Local Government and Local Council
Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state,
warning them to avoid corruption.

Ambode told the appointees at the ceremony in
Ikeja that it would no longer be business as usual
as the people of the state and the government
would be watching them.

He said that the government would not hesitate
to remove any administrator who failed to serve
the people diligently or abused the office.

"It will no longer be business as usual; rather, it
will be a tough journey requiring character,
leadership, commitment and resilience of those
at the helm of affairs to actualise our dreams.

"Strict accountability must be your watchword.
Lagosians will be watching you and we will be
watching you too.

"Your appointment today as Sole Administrators
should therefore be seen as a call to service of
our people.

“You are relay runners on a journey of reform
that will ultimately culminate in the election of
accountable people that will carry on the baton
of good governance for our people.

"For the duration of your race, I urge you to run
the race efficiently with diligence so you do not
betray the trust that has been placed in you,"
Ambode said.

The governor said that a strict monitoring,
control and feedback process would be put in
place to ensure that there were no excesses or
excuses.

He enjoined the appointees to make a
difference to the lives of the people, share in
their joys and pain, and reside among them.

"It is only through this symbiotic relationship
that we can truly say we have begun to
understand and serve our people," Ambode said.

According to him, his administration is
committed to local government reforms and is
working hard to meet the yearnings of the
people at the grassroots by providing them with
basic amenities.

"We are dedicated to this and will deliver on our
promise of a government of inclusion where no
one is left behind," he said.

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government,
Mr Tunji Bello, said the appointment was one of
the steps aimed at preparing the Local
Government Areas for the subsequent holding of
elections.

Mr Sanya Osinjo, the Sole Administrator, Bariga
LCDA, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the
governor and reassured him that they would
carry out their duties diligently.

The Sole Administrators had been appointed by
the governor on Saturday following his
dissolution of the Caretaker Committees of the
Councils.

It followed a resolution of the State House of
Assembly that the previous local government
committees be dissolved and Sole
Administrators appointed in their place.