Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday swore in 57 executive secretaries to manage the affairs of the 20 local government and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Fashola said the delay in conducting elections to elect the chairmen to the councils was caused by the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule.

He said: “While it is true that it is the state Independent Electoral Commission that has the responsibility for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the registers used for the election are those compiled by INEC, because compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the tenure of the last local government chairmen and elected councilors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voters’ registration and that record is yet to be completed.

“This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity to the end of March, hoping that by then all would have been sorted out with the voters register, and then we will go to the elections to elect officers into all levels in the local government structure.”

The governor reiterated that the appointment of the executive secretaries was not an electoral process, but the application of his prerogative as provided by the constitution to prevent the incidence of vacuum in the grassroots governance.

According to him, “This is a prerogative of the exercise of my discretion in order to ensure that services are not held back at the grassroots level.

“I have seen the enthusiasm of our people that they want to serve, I have seen their agitation, their excitement because it means clearly that we are all concerned about our nation, this is what the momentum of change is all about.

“But the truth is that this is my prerogative to appoint who I please in consultation with people who live in those local governments. So, it’s nothing to quarrel about, it’s a transitional arrangement.”

The governor explained that unlike the past where sole administrators were appointed, the Executive Secretaries will be working with four others, expected to serve as Advisory Council in each of the councils.

He charged them to focus on delivering qualitative service to the people at the grassroots within the period they will be in charge.

The newly sworn in Executive Secretaries include Segun Jubril (Isolo), Fausat Hassan (Ojokoro); Moshood Abiola (Onigbongbo); Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu); Bayo Adebisi (Ikorodu North); Princess Aduni Oyefusi (Ikorodu West); Muyiwa Adesoya (Imota); Taiwo Orenuga (Igbogbo-Baiyeku); Toyosi Olusi (Lagos Island); Omotosho Lukman (Lagos Island East); Jide Bello (Mushin); and Rasak Ajala (Odi-Olowo).

Others are Sikiru Lawal (Ojo); Abiodun Oresanya (Somolu); Oyoke Yahaya (Iba); Alabi David (Bariga); Olajobi Dauda (Oshodi); Tajudeen Alabi (Ejigbo); Dele Hussain (Surulere); David Famuyiwa (Agbado Oke Odo); Ahmed Seriki (Epe); and Ajibola Ojodu (Amuwo Odofin).

•Text courtesy of Daily Sun. Photo shows Governor Fashola.

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