Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in newly elected Chairmen and their Deputies across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held at Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu described their emergence as a clear testament to the trust and confidence reposed in them to develop their respective communities further.
“Your victory is not a trophy, it is a mandate, and it comes with weighty expectations. You have been chosen—not coerced, not imposed, but freely and fairly elected by the people you are now called to serve,” the Governor said.
He reminded them that the people’s expectations are rooted in practical, daily needs, urging them to prioritise real development over rhetoric.
“Distinguished Chairmen, you are now custodians of a great trust. 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, 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 added.
Sanwo-Olu urged the Chairmen and their Deputies to hit the ground running and take immediate steps to deliver development at the grassroots.
“Now begins the daily grind of governance, the hard work of delivering results, the quiet resolve to stand firm for what is right even when it is not easy. 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. That energy must be matched at the local level with leadership that is bold, agile, inclusive, and deeply connected to the people,” he stated.
On local government autonomy, Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the state’s long-standing support for decentralised governance and urged the council officials to use their newfound autonomy with integrity.
“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 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. 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 and must be about public impact,” he charged.
