Sanwo-Olu swears in 57 council chairmen, preaches inclusive leadership

The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sworn-in the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.

At the event on Sunday, he urged them to embrace inclusive leadership and prioritise the welfare of residents.

The governor also charged the council leaders, who were elected during the July 12 council poll on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to be courageous, transparent, and accountable to the people at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Sports Ground, Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu described the emergence of the chairmen and their deputies as a call to service and selfless leadership.

The governor said the strength of Lagos lies in the vibrancy, capacity, and effectiveness of its 57 local councils, and therefore urged the newly sworn-in chairmen to lead with courage, compassion, and clarity of purpose, adding 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, and 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. There will be no tolerance for underperformance. Those who betray the people’s trust will be held accountable. Lagos deserves nothing less.”

Also speaking at the event, the Lagos State 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 unwavering 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, assured the people of the state that he and his colleagues across the 57 councils will 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 that development touches every ward and community under our care,” he said.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Lagos State Executive Council; political, traditional, and religious leaders; family members of the new officials; and members of the public.