19th December, 2023
In a grandeur ceremony on Tuesday, former Lagos State Head of Service (HoS), Hakeem Muri-Okunola was pulled out of office in a symbolic ceremony.
Muri-Okunola resigned as Lagos HoS in September after being appointed the Principal Private Secretary to President Bola Tinubu.
He was ceremoniously ushered out of office on Tuesday in what is called “Pull Out” ceremony.
Hundreds of well-wishers, civil servants and others thronged the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium to witness Muri-Okunola’s final moment as a civil servant in Lagos.
Gracing the occasion were Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his counterpart from Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Showering encomium on Muri-Okunola, Sanwo-Olu described him as a very intelligent, efficient and a cerebral officer, who gave his best to stabilise public service in the state.
The governor extolled the virtues of Muri-Okunola, describing him as a sensible man, blessed with native intelligence and ability to manage human and material resources, which in turn has placed the State Public Service on an enviable pedestal.
“You deployed intellectual ability at your disposal to give Lagos a vibrant public service. You are taking forward your knowledge and skill in the service of Nigeria and the President. You did well in Lagos; we have no doubt you will succeed in your new task.”
Sanwo-Olu recalled Muri-Okunola’s days in the Lagos cabinet, noting that the former HOS contributions to debates and policy implementation positively impacted on the civil service and the State.
The Governor disclosed that Muri-Okunola brought the highest number of senior civil servants to be appointed Permanent Secretaries during his tenure as HOS.
Sanwo-Olu also reflected on the sense of fashion, neatness and cultural dexterity infused into the consciousness of public servants.
He said: “Hakeem Muri-Okunola stands out as a man of class and uniqueness. Every defining moment, I listened to Muri-Okunola’s wise counsel and I have never regretted any advice he gave. It is personally joyful that we are not paying tributes to you in past tense; we are talking about your legacy in your lifetime.
“It’s been an honour to have been your boss, brother and colleague. I say without any fear that I have respected the support you have given to me and my Deputy. You have been a worthy partner. Your name will remain written in gold in Lagos public service.”
Lagos State HoS, Bode Agoro congratulated Muri-Okunola for the various supportive roles he had played in effective service delivery to the good people of Lagos State.
He said the state government appreciated his efforts and valuable contributions in rendering quality and purposeful service towards effective execution and implementation of various government policies, programmes and projects while in active service of the State.
“As an appreciative State Government and Public Service, we acknowledge your sense of commitment, diligence, honesty, efficiency and performance over the years, which have continued to make Lagos State a reference point for all other States in the country in terms of effective public service delivery.
“We are really glad that all the exemplary leadership qualities you exhibited in the Public Service and Lagos State in general did not go unnoticed, and as such, resulted to your appointment as the Principal Private Secretary to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the assignment which we have no iota of doubt that you would perform with great success as you have always done wherever you worked,” Agoro extolled.
Agoro added that “undoubtedly, this is the beginning of a new phase in your life and you must take full advantage of it. You may have retired from the Lagos State Public Service, but we are more than 100% certain that you are not tired to use your wealth of experience and expertise in serving your fatherland.
According to Agoro, “what we are witnessing today is a testimony of the reward for diligence, commitment, perseverance and honesty to the State Public Service. Let us learn to be more dedicated, honest and diligent in
whatever assignment we are given because it has reward.”
Former Attorney General of Lagos, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, described the former HOS as “fiercely loyal public servant”, who served the State with every fibre in his body.
“Hakeem took the interest of all public servants as priority at every decision-making opportunity he had,” the former Commissioner for Justice said.
Responding, Muri-Okunola said his journey in Lagos public service was littered with ups and downs, but said it ended with many success stories.
He thanked former Governor Akinwumi Ambode for appointing him HOS, praising Sanwo-Olu for providing guidance and the platform that made him thrive as Number One civil servant.
At 46, Muri-Okunola assumed the position of Lagos State Head of Service, becoming the youngest officer to serve in the portfolio.
He said: “Majority of my time as Head of Service was spent under Gov. Sanwo-Olu, who didn’t just have me as HOS for the sake of having one, but had one whom he allowed to thrive. Mr. Governor gave me a free hand to give leadership and companionship to the entire public service. My tenure couldn’t have been successful without the cooperation of the Body of Permanent Secretaries.”
At exactly 12:08pm, Muri-Okunola signed out and was presented with the Certificate of Service. He was inducted into the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ALARHOSPS).
Some of the numerous achievements recorded during Muri-Okunola’s tenure as HOS included digitisation of Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) and introduction of Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) for scanning of land title documents.