Lagos State Government on Tuesday held a colourful ‘pull out’ ceremony for its former head of service (HoS) Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
At 46, Muri-Okunola became the youngest head of service in Lagos.
Mr Muri-Okunola resigned as HoS in September following his appointment as priincipal private secretary to President Bola Tinubu.
Well-wishers, civil servants and others thronged the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium to witness Muri-Okunola’s final moment as a civil servant in Lagos.
Also in attendance was Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his counterpart from Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Showering praises on Muri-Okunola, Sanwo-Olu described him as a very intelligent, efficient and cerebral person who gave his best to stabilise public service in the state.
“You deployed intellectual ability at your disposal to give Lagos a vibrant public service. You are taking forward your knowledge and skill in the service of Nigeria and the president. You did well in Lagos, we have no doubt you will succeed in your new task,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu recalled Muri-Okunola’s days in the Lagos cabinet, noting that his contributions to debates and policy implementation positively impacted the civil service and the state.
The governor disclosed that Muri-Okunola brought the highest number of senior civil servants to be appointed permanent secretaries during his tenure as HoS.
Muri-Okunola denies plan to stop Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid
Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat celebrate HoS Muri-Okunola at 50
Sanwo-Olu also reflected on the sense of fashion, neatness and cultural dexterity infused into the consciousness of public servants.
He said: “Hakeem Muri-Okunola stands out as a man of class and uniqueness. Every defining moment, I listened to Muri-Okunola’s wise counsel and I have never regretted any advice he gave. It is personally joyful that we are not paying tributes to you in past tense; we are talking about your legacy in your lifetime.
“It’s been an honour to have been your boss, brother and colleague. I say without any fear that I have respected the support you have given to me and my Deputy. You have been a worthy partner. Your name will remain written in gold in Lagos public service.”
Responding, Muri-Okunola thanked former governor Akinwunmi Ambode for appointing him HoS, and praised Sanwo-Olu for providing guidance and the platform that made him thrive as number one civil servant.
He said: “Majority of my time as head of service was spent under Governor Sanwo-Olu who didn’t just have me as HoS for the sake of having one, but had one whom he allowed to thrive. Mr. Governor gave me a free hand to give leadership and companionship to the entire public service. My tenure couldn’t have been successful without the cooperation of the body of permanent secretaries.”
At exactly 12:08pm, Muri-Okunola signed out and was presented with the certificate of service and was inducted into the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ALARHOSPS).
