Long Service Awards: Lagos celebrates 361 workers for decades of commitment

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday honoured 361 public servants with long service merit awards for their dedication and selfless contributions to the state.

The awardees, who had each served for 30 years or more, comprised 128 men and 233 women.

During the public lecture and Long Service Merit Award ceremony held in Alausa, Ikeja, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, acknowledged the significant role the awardees played in promoting inclusive development.

He explained that key principles such as equity, participation, accessibility, empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainability guided the state’s efforts in fostering economic and social progress for all members of society.

Agoro noted that the honoured public servants had contributed to various sectors, including education, infrastructure, social protection, gender equality, healthcare access, technology, job creation, and environmental sustainability.

These sectors, he said, represented the state’s strategies for promoting inclusive development.

“This set of awardees has served Lagos State with unwavering dedication, loyalty, diligence, and resilience for over 30 years, making them worthy of this recognition,” Agoro said.

He assured them that the government valued their contributions and urged them to continue exhibiting a high sense of responsibility and commitment to duty.

Agoro also encouraged other public servants to emulate their dedication, noting that the celebration of Public Service Week highlighted the importance of civil servants in the growth and development of society.

He expressed pride in the Lagos State Public Service, asserting that it remained a leader among public services in Nigeria.

The Head of Service further urged public servants to stay focused and committed to their duties while embracing new technologies to enhance their skills and self-development.

He stressed that Lagos State would continue to provide an enabling environment for public servants to achieve their goals, with staff welfare remaining a top priority.

Preparing the ground for the lecture of the day titled “Breaking Barriers: Public Service Strategies for Inclusive Development,” Agoro highlighted the role of public servants as custodians of public trust, tasked with delivering quality services to all citizens without discrimination.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, pointing out that the state’s developmental agenda had been revised from “THEMES” to “THEMES Plus” under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.

This revision, he said, placed greater emphasis on social inclusion, gender equality, and youth development, with the aim of creating a society where everyone could achieve their full potential.