Sanwo-Olu bars newly elected LG chairmen from appointing SLGs, councillors

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a firm directive barring the newly sworn-in local government chairmen from appointing Secretaries to Local Governments (SLGs) and supervisory councillors across the state.

The announcement came shortly after the governor formally inaugurated chairmen and vice chairmen for the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) on Monday, July 21, 2025.

The event took place at the Sports Ground, Lagos House, Ikeja.

He urged them to use the next 30 to 60 days to settle down and familiarise themselves with the needs of their communities.

The state government, he said, would inform the chairmen when it’s time to make the appointments.

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The governor, however, enjoined them to appoint Chief of Staff to aid the coordination of their daily activities.

He urged them to embrace inclusive leadership and prioritise the welfare of residents.

Assuring them that the state had stayed true to the local government autonomy, he advised the council chiefs to use their power wisely and guard it with transparency.

According to him, there will be no tolerance for underperformance.

He warned that those who betrayed people’s trust would be held accountable, as Lagos deserved nothing less.

“We are living through a new era of local government autonomy—fiscal and administrative independence now affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Lagos has consistently taken the lead in this regard. As chairmen, you now have direct access to your council’s funds. With this comes direct accountability. No excuses. No finger pointing. The buck now stops with you.

“Use this autonomy wisely. Guard it with transparency. Let your tenure reflect not political entitlement, but public responsibility. Leadership must never be about personal gain; it must be about public impact,” he said.

Describing their emergence as a call to service and selfless leadership, the governor called on them to be courageous, transparent and accountable to the people at the grassroots level.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the strength of Lagos lies in the vibrancy, capacity and effectiveness of its 57 local councils. He urged the newly sworn in chairmen to lead with compassion and clarity of purpose, noting that they must not be driven by ambition but by service.

He said: “The people have placed in your hands not just votes, but their dreams. Their expectations are clear: better roads, safer streets, functioning health centres, thriving schools, modern markets, environmental sanitation, youth engagement, and community security. These are not abstractions; they are daily necessities. And your performance will be measured not by the eloquence of your speeches, but by the visibility of your actions.”

“Lagos is counting on you to bring development to every street, every ward, every community. Let the THEMES+ agenda of our administration come alive in your domains. Translate our vision in Transportation, Health, Education, Environment, Security and Social Inclusion into projects that impact lives. Let rural communities feel the presence of the government. Let our riverine and underserved areas know that they, too, are not forgotten. Governance must be inclusive, equitable and people-centred.

“Your success is our success. The state government stands firmly with you. We will support you. We will work with you. But we will also hold you to the highest standards.”

Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, said the successful emergence of the new chairmen at the polls was a testament to their acceptance by the people and an endorsement of their leadership.

The commissioner said the election and swearing-in of the council chairmen and their deputies is a call to deepen governance at the grassroots level and ensure service delivery to all.

He praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to democracy at the grassroots, noting that necessary mechanisms were put in place through the leadership provided by the governor to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible local government elections.

Speaking on behalf of the new council chairmen, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Sesan Olowa, appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos for the opportunity and platform provided to them to serve.

Olowa, who was elected shortly after the event as the Chairman of Conference 57, said he and his colleagues across the 57 councils would remain committed to sustaining the legacy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and delivering impactful governance.

“We will uphold the values of the APC and ensure development touches every ward and community under our care,” he pledged.

In attendance were Sanwo-Olu’s wife, Ibijoke; Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Hamzat; members of the state exco; Speaker Mudasiru Obasa-led state assembly members; National Assembly members; Prince Tajudeen Olusi-led Governance Advisory Council (GAC); party leaders led by APC Lagos State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi; traditional rulers; Kolade Alabi-led former council chairmen; leaders of market men and women; party faithful and supporters of the council chiefs.

(Nation)