Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says the civil service must be empowered to drive development, promote innovation, and embrace technology for improved service delivery.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the opening of the 2025 Strategic Meeting of Heads of Service from the six Southwest States, held in Ikeja.
The meeting was organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).
The Governor was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
He stressed that the civil service must evolve continuously to meet rising public expectations in a rapidly changing world.
According to him, innovation, technology, data, and measurable outcomes should drive today’s public service operations.
“Our civil service must evolve to meet citizens’ growing expectations in a rapidly changing world,” he said.
The governor highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Southwest states.
He added that maintaining the region’s lead was essential if Nigeria is to remain attractive to its people.
“If Nigeria must thrive, the Southwest must maintain its leadership edge,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu underscored the role of professionalism as the foundation of effective governance.
He encouraged participants to develop practical solutions to enhance service delivery across the region.
He also urged the adoption of policies that attract and retain top talent in public administration.
The governor advised promoting ethical conduct and leveraging technology to modernise government processes.
On reforms, he said the Lagos State Government had prioritised civil service transformation under the THEMES Plus agenda.
He said this included digital infrastructure, staff training, improved welfare, and merit-based appointments and promotions.
Sanwo-Olu urged Southwest states to lead efforts in building a world-class civil service for current and future challenges.
“As a pace-setting region, let us lead in building a civil service ready for tomorrow,” he said.
In his welcome address, Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, called for cross-state civil service engagement.
He said such collaboration would promote sustainable development and advance regional integration efforts.
Agoro proposed forming joint committees to design shared policies on professionalism, performance, and ethics in the civil service.
He also suggested creating a Southwest Civil Service digital portal for easy access to policies and best practices.
Additionally, he recommended virtual knowledge-sharing sessions to exchange ideas on reforms and efficiency.
“We must establish interstate committees and digital platforms to share ideas and improve service delivery,” Agoro said.
Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, delivered a lecture on professionalism in the civil service.
He said the civil service must align with technological change and act as a catalyst for development.
According to him, training must reflect the evolving demands of modern public service.
“It is vital to update skills and knowledge regularly to stay aligned with global best practices,” he said.
Olaopa said a competency framework would enable civil servants to deliver quality services and support sustainable development.