Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday, July 27, formally swore within the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen for all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the state.
The ceremony adopted the council elections held on July 12, wherein the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) gained all of the chairmanship positions.
The APC additionally swept practically all of the councillorship seats, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) securing only one.
Addressing the newly inaugurated native leaders on the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu reminded them that their election was not a private triumph however a name to serve.
“Your victory is not a trophy, it’s a mandate, and it comes with weighty expectations,” he informed the chairmen.
He emphasised the necessity for seen and significant enhancements throughout native communities, itemizing areas corresponding to street infrastructure, healthcare, schooling, youth engagement, environmental cleanliness, and inclusive governance as key focus factors.
According to the governor, their success will probably be measured not by guarantees however by tangible outcomes.
READ ALSO: APC Sweeps All Chairmanship Seats in Lagos LG Polls
“Today’s Lagos is not the Lagos of yesterday. We are a 21st Century mega-city, driven by the energy of over 24 million people. This State is the economic engine of our nation,” he mentioned.
Sanwo-Olu additionally highlighted the significance of the latest Supreme Court ruling on native authorities autonomy, noting that it provides councils each administrative and financial independence.
“We are living through a new era of local government autonomy — fiscal and administrative independence now affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he mentioned.
“Lagos has always led the charge 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 urged them to see management as a accountability to their communities and never as an entitlement.
“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 added.
With their swearing-in full, the brand new council leaders now face the problem of proving their price by delivering actual change on the grassroots.
