Experts are excited by the list of commissioners and aides released by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, saying their profiles present a clue to how he intends to build on the achievements of his predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola.
They advised Ambode to post them to their areas of professional training for maximum productivity.
A group called Concerned Experts on Good Governance (CEGG) lauded the list, citing the names of talented youths.
CEGG Coordinator, Muyiwa Olakunle, described it as “bold and refreshing,” and said he is particularly interested in the profiles and achievements of the youthful professionals.
“It takes courage, vision and focus to accommodate such young accomplished professionals in a politically complex state like Lagos,” he said.
Out of the 23 nominated commissioners and 13 nominated advisers, Olakunle noted, “there are known politicians, but to me, by injecting into the system, youthful fresh blood, including core professionals … Ambode is set to face the current challenges of today’s governance.”
The nominees include Akinyemi Ashade (Partner in KPMG with expertise on Financial Services Industry); Yetunde Onabolu; Fela Bank-Olemoh; Steve Ayorinde (former National Mirror Managing Director); Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (pharmacist); Kehinde Joseph; and Ademola Abass (law professor).
Olakunle argued that core professionals should be drafted to finance, budgeting, and planning ministries in order to realise greater internally generated revenue (IGR).
Kehinde Yusuf, an economist, said any government that wants to succeed must have level headed financial experts.
“Such experts should not also be there for the sake of it but should be made to supervise relevant departments like finance, planning, budget office, works, et cetera,” he counselled.
Given the realities of the Nigerian and global economy, Yusuf added, every government must allow experts to guide it in its drive for IGR and in its expenditure habits.
“I have always advocated use of dynamic professionals with credible private sector industry background instead of mere political nominees in critical areas like commissioners of finance, planning, budgeting, strategy, works and such like.
“This is why I am happy at the profiles of the people that made Ambode’s list, especially the fresh blood, the young professionals, he injected into the system. They are likely to evolve more innovative and effective ways of running government.”
Yusuf said the inclusion of some cabinet members who worked with Fashola confirms “continuity in Lagos,” and “the inclusion of these fresh blood, not just in a bid to satisfy political interests but on the basis of merit and competence, is reason enough to commend Ambode.”
Olajide Idris, a management consultant in the Ikeja Business District, reiterated that core professionals should be posted to finance, budgeting, and planning ministries so as to fetch more IGR.
His words: “I think Ambode has scaled the first hurdle by injecting new blood into the system as he promised in his inaugural speech.
“What is remaining is to ignore political pressure and give these professionals core positions in line with their expertise.
“For example, financial experts, especially the ones with less political baggage, should be assigned to run finance, planning, budgeting ministries and whatever office that will oversee IGR.
“This should be the same for the other sectors. This is what I call putting round pegs in round holes. This is the only way to go.”
