Lagosians set agenda for commissioners
(Professor Akin Abayomi)
After the ruckus between the Lagos legislative and the executive arms has been resolved, the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu finally swore in 37 commissioners and special advisers last Wednesday amidst funfair at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa Secretariat Ikeja.
He read out the portfolios of each of the cabinet members at the event and charged them to hit the ground running as there are enormous jobs for them to do.
Echonews takes a tour of a few critical ministries, which will define the story of the present administration in the next four years. In our researches and random sampling of the views of Lagos residents, our correspondent observed some key ministries mentioned by Lagosians that must deliver to make the state a better place to live.
Health Ministry
A resident, Mrs. Olubukola Ajayi expressed her displeasure with the service at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Apart from the fact that she has a brother who is a patient at the hospital, Ajayi condemned the recent news of alleged organ harvesting of a 13-year-old patient in the hospital. She said her regular visit to the hospital had revealed to her so many anomalies that the ministry of health must address.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi will continue from where he left the ministry but with a special challenge to resolve. Abayomi’s first tenure was faced with COVID-19 pandemic, which of course revealed his enormous capacity to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. He was sworn in alongside other commissioners in the third quarter of 2019 and had to face the first case of COVID-19 on February 27, 2020. Abayomi battled the pandemic for about two years of his tenure as the commissioner for health. As he assumed office last Wednesday for another term, Abayomi’s first task is how to reset the workings at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Complex. In the last three months, there have been accusation of negligence and maltreatment of patients by the hospital. In August one 13-year-old boy, Adebola Akin-Bright’s intestines were found missing at the hospital. Investigation by our correspondent showed that there were various cases of patients neglect at the hospital. Some of the reasons were attributed to low number of bed spaces and resident doctors. According to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the health sector is complex and constantly under the scrutiny of citizens, Ogboye notedthat the unbundling of the health sector into health districts for ease of administration will be of great help in achieving the health mandate.
However, Abayomi has pledged to rejig quality healthcare in the state. When he resumed last Thursday alongside the Special Adviser to the governor on health, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya the commissioner said that he would intensify effort in working with all stakeholders to revamp, remodel, reposition, and repurpose the State health sector to be the medical tourism destination of choice in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at the reception ceremony held in their honour by management and staff of the Ministry of Health, Abayomi and Finnih-Awokoya solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the health sector to drive the health mandate of the present administration towards improving access to qualitative and efficient health services and attaining universal health coverage.
The Commissioner noted that one of the key initiatives his team will focus on will be transforming healthcare infrastructure and addressing the issue of brain drain in the medical field.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Health recognises the valuable contributions of alternative health practitioners and will work towards providing them with necessary training and accreditation, as well as integrate them into the State healthcare system.
Abayomi stated that hismandate in the Ministry is geared towards the progress of the health sector anchored on partnership, collaboration and friendship.
He noted that he would bring her years of experience in the health sector, particularly at the primary health level, to bear in the discharge of hisduty, promising to right all wrongs and work with everyone to deliver quality, efficient and equitable healthcare services to the citizenry.
Physical Planning and Urban Development Ministry
The newly appointed Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide has come at the season of rains when the state records high number of cases of buildings collapse. According to the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Lagos has recorded about 20 cases of collapses between 2022 and September 2023. The ministry is blessed with various agencies that should curb building collapse and bring it to the nearest minimum but the agencies are lacking the political will to enforcement many of the state building laws. The Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA will have to maximise their potential in stopping criminal developers from erecting bad structures in the state.
Immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos Council, TPl Ayo Adejumo noted the incessant collapse of buildings in Lagos, which must be the first assignment for the incoming commissioner to address. According to him, many government officials compromise the laws and make it easy for criminal developers to erect bad structures.
To him, the current commissioner will have to look at the number of testing laboratories in the state and increase it from its present five to at least 10 before it can serve a population of over 25 million in Lagos state.
Our correspondent observed during a recent enforcement activity by LASPPPA that developers flagrantly disregarded the “Stop – work order, seal up and other notices”” served on contravening properties.
Some properties previously sealed by the state Authority werediscovered to have been unsealed with fake Planning Permit.
However, while speaking during his first day in office last Thursday, Olumide said that transparency in the built sector and zero tolerance to building collapse would be his watchwords.
(Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide)
The Commissioner, who arrived at the Ministry together with the Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban Planning, Dr. Olajide Babatunde after the swearing-in ceremony by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promised to build on previous successes and introduce more progressive initiatives to further revolutionise the sector while working effectively with all stakeholders.
The Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban Planning, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, who returned to his former post, called for continued cooperation and teamwork.
Justice Ministry
Lagos has been lucky with its justice system over the years and the fact that the current commissioner for justice and Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN) is a thoroughbred professional who cut his teeth in civil service, the dispensation of justice is expected to be smoother.
A Lagosian and lawyer, Mr. Dotun Alabi said that residentswould expect a more transparent and accountable justice administration under Pedro, especially in the rising cases of domestic and sexual violence, prison congestion due to delay hearing at the various courts.
Speaking as he resumed to the office on Thursday, Lawal said that the ministry would not disappoint the residents and the government as he urged law officers in the to brace up for change and effective service delivery in the administration of the justice sector.
To Pedro SAN, the story of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been of successes, achievements and innovations, adding, “the tradition of progressive governance has set the ministry apart and strengthened people’s belief in its ideology.”
(Pedro)
He said, “It is imperative to understand that there will be obstacles left and right while discharging our duties, it is also up to us to know that we can overcome these obstacles. Yes, hard problems may confront us, but we will also confront them. Every problem will lose its potency to our unity in the ministry of justice”,
Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN, further explained that the impending change would be targeted at building a positive public image through effective feedback mechanism and prompt, timely and courteous service, urging law officers to embrace transparency and accountability in their official conduct
“I ask you to join me on this journey to pilot the affairs of the ministry to greater heights. Let us vow to ourselves and posterity that we shall collectively rise to build the legacy we have always hoped for”, he said.
To the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey-Jeje, the Ministry of Justice is saddled with the primary responsibility of ensuring compliance with the rule of law.
“Our mission here is to improve the delivery of Justice, through robustness and professionalism while maintaining synergy with all tiers of government”, she said.
The Solicitor-General further stressed that the Ministry is also a multi-point bridge and an intermediary between the people and the State Government and is the first point of call in the Justice Administration of the State.
She, however, assured the Attorney General that the staff will support him at all levels to ensure quick dispensation of justice while strengthening the rule of law in the State.
The Director of Civil Litigation, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga expressed immense gratitude to the State Government, Solicitor-General and other guests for gracing the occasion while wishing the newly appointed Attorney General a successful tenure.
