The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Monday told his cabinet members to brace up to the responsibilities and challenges of their new offices as they are under public scrutiny.
According to the Governor, a lot of burden would be on them to live above board and be morally upright.
He charged members of the newly constituted cabinet of the State to be role models, manage expectations and join him in advancing the goals of even development across the State, as they are now public servants and not mere representatives of their towns or local governments.
He said they should not be found wanting in character, as they would come under intense public scrutiny and people would want to probe every of their actions and inactions.
Prince Dapo Abiodun, who made these remarks in his office, at the orientation programme organised for commissioners and special advisers.
Governor Abiodun reminded his appointees that their conduct and utterances would now be thoroughly looked at differently from when they were not commissioners and special advisers.
He urged the cabinet members to join him as partners in progress like the civil servants who are the engine room of governance.
He stressed that as worthy partners and anchors of the bureaucratic structures upon which the programmes and policies of his administration would be built, cabinet members should forge a seamless cordial and work relationship with the civil servants which he described as dedicated, efficient and committed professionals.
“You are now public servants and have joined the league of politically exposed people. Your conduct, utterances and public personality will now come under intense public scrutiny, so be guided accordingly.
“To achieve optimally, you will need to work with and regard the Ogun State public servants as partners and anchors of the bureaucratic structures required to deliver on our programmes and policies. You will find in Ogun State public servants the most dedicated, efficient and committed professionals. They are the inheritors of the proud legacies of the Ogun State Public Service. So, with the combination of political appointees, who are best breed and the public servants that rank top in the Country, the stage is now set for a new Ogun State of our collective dreams,” he said.
The Governor, while describing the newly assembled Executive Council members as the most star-studded Council in the Country, said that he would provide the right leadership as the captain of the team.
“This administration has arguably the most star-studded cabinet in the Country: various expertise, different backgrounds, and even various but complementary flavours have been brought together. As the captain of this team, I want to assure you that I will provide the right leadership for you to blossom as individual stars and for our team to record achievements that are greater than the sum of individual accomplishments,” he said.
The helmsman added that each of the cabinet members was chosen based on their track records and on the basis that they would contribute immensely to building the future of the State.
He added that the new cabinet members must all come on board with a mindset of team work that would “generate a new and higher momentum.”
The orientation program for the new cabinet members had retired Head of Service, Chief Dipo Odulate, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle and the Director, Code of Conduct Bureau in the State, Mr. Segun Rabiu as resource persons.
