Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasized that appointments into public office should be based on competence, integrity, and excellence, not on ethnic or sectional considerations.
Speaking at a public event in Lagos on Tuesday, the Governor said Nigeria can only achieve real development if leaders at all levels prioritize merit and capacity when selecting people to serve.
According to him, the country has too many talented and qualified citizens who are often overlooked because of where they come from, their religion, or their political connections. He argued that this approach has slowed down progress and weakened public institutions.
“We must move away from the politics of ethnicity and favoritism,” Sanwo-Olu said. “What Lagos needs, and what Nigeria needs, are men and women who are competent, who have integrity, and who are committed to excellence. That is how we build institutions that work for everyone.”
The Governor noted that Lagos has made progress in governance because the state government has consistently tried to appoint people based on their track record and ability to deliver results, regardless of tribe or background.
He added that public service should be about service delivery, not about rewarding loyalists or balancing ethnic quotas alone. While acknowledging diversity, he said diversity should complement merit, not replace it.
“Competence does not have a tribe. Excellence does not have a religion. Integrity does not have a region,” he stated. “When we put the right people in the right positions, service delivery improves, citizens’ trust grows, and development follows.”
Sanwo-Olu urged other states and the federal government to adopt the same standard, saying that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not a lack of resources but the failure to put capable hands in charge.
He also charged civil servants and political appointees in Lagos to continue to uphold transparency, accountability, and professionalism in their duties.
The Governor’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about representation and federal character in public appointments across the country. Many stakeholders at the event applauded his position, describing it as timely and necessary for national unity and growth.
Sanwo-Olu concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to building a Lagos where opportunity is open to every qualified resident, irrespective of where they come from.
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