Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, swore in the newly elected chairmen and deputies across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of the state.
The chairmen and councillors were elected during the council poll held on 12 July.
In the election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won only a councillorship seat.
At the swearing in ceremony on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu described their emergence as a call to service and selfless leadership.
He charged them on grassroots development, transparent governance and accountability to the people.
To them , he said, ‘Your victory is not a trophy, it’s a mandate, and it comes with weighty expectations’.
According to him, the expectations include better roads, safer streets, functional healthcare facilities, thriving schools, modern markets, environmental sanitation, youth engagement, and inclusive governance.
He said their performances will be measured by the visibility of their actions.
Sanwo-Olu said that state has stayed true to the local councillor autonomy and asked them to use the power wisely.
He said: ‘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.
‘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; it must be about public impact’.
