The Lagos State Government has recognised 506 officers of the Unified Local Government Service for decades of dedicated service, with the administration stressing the need to preserve institutional knowledge and strengthen continuity in grassroots governance.
The awardees, comprising 492 senior and 14 junior officers, were honoured at the 2026 Long Service Merit Award organised by the Office of Local Government Establishments and Training at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, on Tuesday.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat said the recognition was not merely about celebrating the length of the officers’ careers but acknowledging the impact of their service on Lagos residents.
Hamzat said the awardees had demonstrated resilience and commitment by remaining in service through successive administrations, technological changes and evolving community needs.
“Your years in service are important, but what is even more important is what you have done with those years. You have remained available to serve the people through changes in leadership, technology and the communities themselves,” he said.
The deputy governor, who conveyed the governor’s appreciation to the awardees, assured them that their contributions to the development of Lagos would not be forgotten.
“Lagos appreciates your contributions. This government will stand by you, and the community will stand by you,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also urged younger officers to draw lessons from the careers of the awardees, particularly their discipline, consistency and integrity.
“For those who are just starting their careers, look closely at the people being honoured today. Their experience teaches us the value of consistency, discipline and integrity, qualities that cannot simply be acquired in a classroom,” he said.
He said the state’s public service must continue to evolve to meet the expectations of residents, while retaining the values that have sustained the institution over the years.
According to him, Lagos requires a public service that is “faster, more transparent, more decentralised, and more responsive” to the needs of citizens.
The Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, said the state government would continue to recognise officers who had devoted significant portions of their working lives to public service.
Agoro described the award as both a reward for dedication and an encouragement to serving officers to maintain professionalism and high ethical standards.
He urged the awardees to regard the recognition as a fresh call to duty rather than the conclusion of their responsibilities to the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, Toyin Ogunlana, said the merit award was instituted to celebrate officers whose careers reflected loyalty, discipline and commitment to public service.
Ogunlana said the initiative also reinforced the values required to build an efficient and responsive local government system.
“This initiative celebrates the values that sustain an effective and responsive public service, including integrity, diligence, accountability and excellence,” she said.
Some of the awardees reflected on their years in service and encouraged younger officers to remain committed to their responsibilities.
Mosunmola Otaiku, Council Manager, Kosofe Local Government, described her career as a “pleasant experience”, saying she had consistently given her best in the discharge of her responsibilities.
“I have tried my best,” she said.
Similarly, the Council Manager, Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, Joseph Oladeji, urged younger officers to cultivate punctuality, discipline and dedication.
“The government is always there to give incentives to workers as and when due. Those coming behind should remain dedicated to their work,” he said.
The recognition of the 506 officers underscores the role of experienced personnel in preserving institutional memory and transferring knowledge to a new generation of public servants within Lagos’ local government system.
Lagos Honours 506 Local Government Officers for Long Service
