Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has placed a temporary restriction on all newly sworn-in 57 Local Government and LCDA Chairmen, barring them from appointing Secretaries to Local Governments (SLGs) and Supervisory Councillors.
The directive came shortly after he administered the oath of office to the elected chairmen and vice-chairmen at a ceremony held at the Sports Ground, Lagos House, Ikeja.
Sanwo-Olu instructed the new council bosses to spend the next 30 to 60 days familiarizing themselves with the needs of their respective communities.
He clarified that the state government would later notify them when the appointments could proceed.
However, he urged them to immediately appoint Chiefs of Staff to help coordinate their daily activities.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership and prioritizing citizens’ welfare, saying Lagos would not tolerate underperformance or betrayal of public trust.
“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,” he declared.
He urged the new leaders to treat this autonomy with responsibility and transparency, reminding them that leadership is a public duty, not personal privilege.
“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,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Describing the mandate given to the chairmen as a “call to service and selfless leadership,” the governor asked them to lead with courage, clarity of purpose, and compassion.
“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.”
He reminded them that Lagos State’s THEMES+ agenda must reflect in every part of the state:
“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.”
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, praised the newly elected chairmen, calling their emergence a clear endorsement by the people. He applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership in ensuring credible and peaceful local government elections.
“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 said.
Speaking on behalf of the new council bosses, Sesan Olowa, Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu and Lagosians for the trust placed in them. Olowa, who was elected Chairman of Conference 57 during the event, vowed that the new leaders would uphold APC values and deliver good governance.
“We will uphold the values of the APC and ensure that development touches every ward and community under our care,” he pledged.
The swearing-in ceremony was graced by top officials and dignitaries, including First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Hamzat, members of the state and national assemblies, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, APC Lagos State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, traditional rulers, and market leaders.
