Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, has emphasised the need for civil service reform to drive development, promote innovation, and leverage technology for improved service delivery.
Sanwo-Olu made the call at the opening of the 2025 Strategic Meeting of Heads of Service from the six Southwest States, held in Ikeja.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that the civil service must evolve continuously to meet rising public expectations in a rapidly changing world.
He said, “Our civil service must evolve to meet citizens’ growing expectations in a rapidly changing world.”
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the importance of innovation, technology, data, and measurable outcomes in driving public service operations.
The Governor emphasised the need for collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Southwest states, saying, “If Nigeria must thrive, the Southwest must maintain its leadership edge.”
He urged participants to develop practical solutions to enhance service delivery across the region and adopt policies that attract and retain top talent in public administration.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the Lagos State Government had prioritised civil service transformation under the THEMES Plus agenda, which includes digital infrastructure, staff training, improved welfare, and merit-based appointments and promotions.
He urged Southwest states to lead efforts in building a world-class civil service for current and future challenges, saying, “As a pace-setting region, let us lead in building a civil service ready for tomorrow.”
In his remarks, the State Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, called for cross-state civil service engagement to promote sustainable development and advance regional integration efforts.
He proposed forming joint committees to design shared policies on professionalism, performance, and ethics in the civil service and creating a Southwest Civil Service digital portal for easy access to policies and best practices.
Also, Professor Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, delivered a lecture on professionalism in the civil service, emphasising the need for the civil service to align with technological change and act as a catalyst for development.
He said, “It is vital to update skills and knowledge regularly to stay aligned with global best practices.”
Olaopa noted that a competency framework would enable civil servants to deliver quality services and support sustainable development.
