5th January, 2022
Lagos State Head of Service, HOS, Hakeem Muri-Okunola has said government workers could help build the Lagos everyone dreamt of if they would work very hard this year.
Muri-Okunola said civil servants must work harder this year and be productive for Lagos to be built, saying that commitment is the key.
He spoke, while welcoming civil servants back to work at a thanksgiving ceremony in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tueaday.
The HOS said civil servants excelled last year, but that they needed to do more this year.
He added that in as much as the state government planned to implement new policies that would facilitate a more sustainable environment in which to live and work, workers also should work harder this year.
“In order therefore for the state government to reinvent a more sustainable future, accelerate socio-economic development, improve the healthcare delivery system and all its value chain, including supply chains, primary health care and alternative medicine and as well implement policies that would facilitate a more sustainable environment in which to live and work, I urge you all to work harder this year at building the Lagos of our collective dreams,” he stated.
Muri-Okunola said 2021, like 2019 and 2020, was full of challenges for leaders all over the world, adding that no country was spared from the COVID-19 pandemic or related socio-economic, educational and security crises, including Lagos.
He said workers must acknowledge and commend the state government’s efforts and commitment to combating the virus and ensuring its reduction to the barest minimum, while renewing public infrastructure statewide and also implementing policies to improve the quality of public service across all sectors.
The HOS enjoined all public servants to continue to exhibit the time-tested values, ethos and traditions of honesty, probity, transparency, integrity, hard work and service excellence that were the hallmarks of the Lagos State Public Service.
He reminded all workers that COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world, adding that all workers should always comply with existing safety protocol as laid down by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Lagos State Ministry of Health.
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mr Samson Ajibade, also said the first work day of the year is a great opportunity to pray and appreciate God, as well hand over state affairs to Him in New Year.
Also Mrs Margaret Sholarin, the Permanent Secretary and Tutor General, Education District 1, declared that it was good that all public servants came to seek the face of God in the New Year to direct and control their affairs.
Leading the Muslim faithful in the prayers, Imam Hakeem Kosoko, gave thanks to Almighty Allah, for keeping them alive till this new year, just as he sought the face of God to see more grace in the new year.
Also leading the Christian faithful, Chaplains of the Chapel of Christ the Light Church, Alausa, Venerable Ezekiel Oluwadele, Venerable Dele Ajayi and Pastor Samson Kilanko, urged all public servants to remain grateful and committed to God.