Lagos State: Three Commissioners Droped,Gov Ambode Appoints Five New Ones.

Almost 15 months after he removed three commissioners from the State Executive Council, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, thursday announced a major cabinet reshuffle, which completely edged out three commissioners and heralded five new ones into the council.

Before announcing the cabinet reshuffle, the governor provided insight into the implementation of the state budget under the 2017 fiscal year, noting that he put the 2017 budget performance at 82 per cent while the state raked in N503.7 billion as the internally generated revenue (IGR).

The decision to reshuffle the cabinet was conveyed in a statement the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, issued yesterday, noting that major deployment “has equally been effected in the state executive council” alongside the removal of three members and the appointment of five new ones

As detailed in the statement, three commissioners removed from the council are Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, who was the Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Femi Odubiyi of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Mr. Anifowoshe Abiola, of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

He, however, appointed Mr. Hakeem Fahm to man the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Ladi Lawanson to serve in the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Segun Banjo to oversee the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye to be in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Mr. Hakeem Sulaiman as the Special Adviser on Communities and Communications.

He, also, deployed Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye from Commerce and Industry to Physical Planning and Urban Development; Mr. Steve Ayorinde from Information & Strategy to Tourism, Arts and Culture and Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan from Communities and Communication to Information and Strategy.

The governor, equally, deployed Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi Etti from Wealth Creation to the Environment; Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf from Youth and Social Development to Wealth Creation; Mr. Agboola Dabiri from Central Business District to Youth and Social Development.

The deployment, also, affected Dr. Samuel Adejare, who had been moved from the Environment to Waterfront Infrastructure Development as well as Mr. Ade Akinsanya from Waterfront Infrastructure Development to Works and Infrastructure, among others.

He, therefore, explained his decision to reshuffle the cabinet, noting that the exercise became imperative “to create a new vigour and vitality for service delivery which has been the hallmark of the Ambode administration.”

At the tenth townhall meeting held at the LTV complex, Agidingbi yesterday, the governor disclosed that that the State generated a total of N503.7 billion revenue in 2017 despite the harsh economic climate in the country.

Consequent upon what the state generated internally and revenue accrued from the Federation Account, he revealed that under the 2017 fiscal year, his administration was able to record a composite budget performance of 82 per cent.

Despite the harsh economy, Ambode explained that the state budget “performed at 82 per cent. Likewise, the state’s total revenue generated was N503.7 billion representing a performance of 78 per cent; total recurrent expenditure was N281.33bn representing a performance of 92 per cent and total capital expenditure was N387.60bn or 76 per cent performance.”

He listed key projects his administration fully implemented under the fiscal year to include the new Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal, new Ojota Pedestrian bridge, Aboru – Abesan link Bridge and adjoining inner roads, Ojodu Berger Slip Road and Pedestrian Bridge, Jubilee Bridges in Ajah and Abule Egba, Freedom and Admiralty Road in Lekki, new Lands Registry, newly upgraded Jubilee Chalet in Epe, among others.

Ambode said as at December 2017, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (ETF) had disbursed a total of N4.5billion to 5,500 beneficiaries who were trained in financial literacy and business management.

He added that keys were presented to beneficiaries of the first set of allottees of Lagos State Rent-to-Own Housing Scheme; the State Neighbourhood Safety Corps was created and beautification of the state with the erection of monuments, parks and gardens had started in earnest.