The Lagos State Government has instructed secretaries to local governments (SLGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to submit 500 applicants from each area for recruitment into the military.
Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), issued this directive during a quarterly meeting with the SLGs and LCDAs on Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos.
Mrs. Salu-Hundeyin gave the secretaries a two-week deadline to submit the lists of applicants, emphasizing the importance of encouraging indigenous Lagos youths to enlist in the military.
She noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to ensuring that local youths enroll, in accordance with the federal government’s policy of promoting equal representation from all states in the military.
Additionally, she stated that the secretaries have been informed about the recruitment requirements so they can effectively educate and sensitize the youths.
She urged the indigenous youths to take pride in their state and contribute to its security by joining the military.
“This is a particular programme that Mr Governor is very, very concerned about, and he has said that we must go to all the nooks and crannies of the state, to ensure that we get the indigenes to be recruited, we have always been short-changed.
“Our indigenes themselves do not show interest, a lot of people feel that when you join the military, the next thing is you are going to the war front, and you will be killed.
“Today, we were able to explain and share knowledge with our secretaries, who are the grassroots, and they are going back to tell them that it is not so.
“When you are in the military, you could still become a lawyer, a doctor, any professional. We are talking about securing your country, it is the most noble job anybody can do. That is the most noble service in the world.
“A country that is not secured is not a country, an unsecured state is not a state. So we are encouraging them, and who are the best people to secure? You can only secure what you are passionate about, what you believe is yours,” the SSG said.
She stated that the purpose of the periodic meetings with the secretaries of various local governments is to ensure that governance reaches the grassroots level.
According to her, for governance to be effective, it must connect with the grassroots, and the secretaries are the key figures who interact with the local communities, including people on the streets and throughout the state.
“So, whatever policies that we have arrived at, at the state level, we want to be sure that it is actually cascading to the grassroots and that people understand and it is having a positive impact on them,” she said.
(NAN)
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