Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday, July 27, officially swore in the newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen for all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
The ceremony followed the council elections held on July 12, in which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the chairmanship positions.
The APC also swept nearly all the councillorship seats, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) securing just one.
Addressing the newly inaugurated local leaders at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu reminded them that their election was not a personal triumph but a call to serve.
“Your victory is not a trophy, it’s a mandate, and it comes with weighty expectations,” he told the chairmen.
He emphasised the need for visible and meaningful improvements across local communities, listing areas such as road infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth engagement, environmental cleanliness, and inclusive governance as key focus points.
According to the governor, their success will be measured not by promises but by tangible results.
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“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,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the importance of the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, noting that it gives councils both administrative and fiscal independence.
“We are living through a new era of local government autonomy — fiscal and administrative independence now affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he said.
“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.”
He urged them to see leadership as a responsibility to their communities and not as an entitlement.
“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,” Sanwo-Olu added.
With their swearing-in complete, the new council leaders now face the challenge of proving their worth by delivering real change at the grassroots.