By Debo Adeniji

Eight hundred and sixty one employees of the Lagos State public service were today honoured with long service merit awards.

In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri- Okunola urged
Public servants in the state to keep up their good attitude to work and continually perform their good job to further the successful implementation of the THEMES agenda of the present administration.

At the 2020 Long Service Merit Award celebration, which took place at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, the head of service said the event presents the opportunity to celebrate public servants who have served the state meritoriously in the last thirty years and above with the hope that the gesture will encourage awardees and other staff alike to continue to put in their best in the service of the state.

“The objective of the annual award ceremony, as you know, is the conscious and deliberate celebration of diligence, commitment, hard work and loyalty among public servants in Lagos State as a way of expressing government’s appreciation and gratitude to select member’s of its workforce”, he said.

The HOS urged the awardees not to rest on their oars but continue to exhibit the high sense of responsibility and commitment to duty.

“My advice to all the awardees is that you should not rest on your oars, but continue to exhibit the high sense of responsibility, commitment to duty and unalloyed loyalty, which today’s recognition and celebration have been designed to reward. Accordingly, I enjoin all public servants in Lagos State to keep up the good attitude to work and continually perform your job to further the successful implementation of the THEMES agenda of the present administration”, Muri-Okunola said.

He further affirmed that this year’s edition of the Long Service Merit Award commenced since Tuesday 3rd of November at different centers across the state with the grand finale at being witnessed today.

Also in her address, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji, expresed appreciation to all the recipients of the award, just as she expresed opportunity of the state government to celebrate those that have served the state meritoriously in the the last 30 years and above.

The recipients of the awards include the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Information, Mr Olusina Thorpe, Establishment and Training, Mr Bamgboye Abiodun. Others permanent Secretaries and Tutor Generals are Mrs Deile Helen Morenike, Solarin Margaret, Architect Dipe Foluso, Mrs Odejayi Yetunde, Mrs Liadi Adetutu, Mrs Raji Ganiat, Mrs Balogun Sherifat Bolajoko, Mrs Lambo Abosede and others.

Debo Adeniji is the Public Affairs Officer, Office of the Head of Service, Lagos State