Lagos State Head of Service (HOS), Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has revealed that the state government restructured and renamed the Ministry of Education and some of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), for improved performance and effective service delivery.

Muri-Okunola said in a circular on Thursday in Lagos, that those affected were the Ministry of Education; Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education; Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs; Office of Civic Engagement; and Central Internal Audit Department.

He noted that the Ministry of Education would now be known as Ministry of Basic Education, stating that the Ministry of Basic Education would be responsible for policy formulation and evaluation relating to education matters; supervision of pre-primary and primary education in Lagos State except staff matters.

According to him, the Ministry of Basic Education will also be responsible for policy, supervision, and management of secondary schools in Lagos State except for staff matters.

The HOS added that the ministry would be responsible for the approval, regulation, and monitoring of private, pre-primary, primary, post-primary, vocational, and technical institutions; among other responsibilities.

He said the ‘Office of the Special Adviser on Education’ had now became a full-fledged Ministry, known as the ”Ministry of Tertiary Education”.

Muri-Okunola stressed that the Ministry of Tertiary Education had the responsibility of supervision, monitoring, and investigating tertiary education matters, among other responsibilities.

He said the ‘Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs’ would revert to its former name prior to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, as the ‘Ministry of Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development’ with a substantive ‘Office of Rural Development’.

The HOS added that ‘Political and Legislative Bureau’ had been reintroduced under the ‘Office of Civic Engagement”’ to enhance the performance of the office.

Muri-Okunola said that while the functions of the Office of Civic Engagement remained, the Political and Legislative Bureau would handle political and legislative issues relating to the Executive and Legislative arms.

He said the PLB would ensure political engagements and inclusion; advise the governor on political and legislative matters; and create a congenial atmosphere for harmonious relationship of the legislature and executive arms.

Muri-Okunola revealed that the PLB would ensure political intelligence and mobilise support for State Government Executive Bills at the Public Hearing of the Lagos State House of Assembly, among other responsibilities.

He further noted that the Central Internal Audit Department would now be known as the Office of Internal Audit.