…As Fashola warns against corrupt practices

By Monsur Olowoopejo

Lagos—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, warned the newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state civil service against corrupt practices, saying the government has zero tolerance for corruption.

Fashola, gave the warning, after the administration of oath of office and oath of secrecy on the 12 newly appointed permanent secretaries even as he cautioned them against nepotism and other acts capable of undermining the interest of the public they are called to serve.

According to the governor, the call to public service must never be seen as a means to benefit self at the expense of the generality of the people.

Fashola urged the permanent secretaries not to see their appointments as promotion but a call to leadership in their various ministries.

“Let me be very clear that this is not a promotion, it’s an appointment to lead, it’s a call to leadership. It is a very important call to leadership at a time when our societies, our communities, our nation and indeed the world face a serious leadership challenge.

“You will be expected to provide leadership in the various ministries that you will lead; as accounting officers, you are expected to have a firm grip of those ministries, departments and agencies that respond and report to you.” He said

Fashola, also implored them to be faithful to the oaths they had taken to eschew corruption, even as he cautioned friends and families of the appointees not to mount undue pressure on them in a bid to get undue advantage over others at the expense of merit.

He explained that the appointment was based on merit, adding that many of them would not have made the list.

The governor, therefore, urged them to reciprocate the gesture in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the Civil Service in the state had been eradicating nepotism in public service which according to him had made the State Civil Service a role model in Nigeria.

“You swore before us and before God to eschew corruption. I think that in dealing with the problem of corruption in our country, we focus on the monetary side of it; if you look at the definition of corruption, it is not just an illegal act for pecuniary purpose, it is also gaining undeserved and undue advantage and these are things that you must avoid.

“If I did not avoid them, you probably would not have become Permanent Secretaries, we have appointed you on merit.

“The Civil Service of Lagos State has been dealing with these challenges on a day to day basis and that is why this is the Civil Service to beat in the whole Federal Republic” he affirmed.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji, who spoke on behalf of other appointees pledged to live by the oaths they took to ensure fairness in the discharge of their duty.

The new appointees include- Deji Adenekan, Joseph Adediran, Dr. Longe Rotimi, Ogunmola Modinat, Ebunola Oladimeji, Architect Dipe and Folashade Onabolu.

Others are Salami Mabayoje, Sanusi Adewole, Soname Abosede, Umar Sukura, Ogunnaike Oluwatosin.