The Lagos State Government has instructed Secretaries to the Local Governments (SLGs) and Local Council Development Areas (SLCDAs) to submit lists of 500 applicants from each area for recruitment into the military. This directive was given by Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), during a Quarterly Meeting in Ikeja on Thursday.
Salu-Hundeyin emphasized the importance of Indigenous Lagos youths enlisting in the military, aligning with the Federal Government’s policy of equal representation from all states. She provided the secretaries with a two-week ultimatum to submit the applicant lists and highlighted the need for proper sensitization regarding recruitment requirements.
“The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is very passionate about ensuring that Indigenous youths enroll. We must reach out to all areas of the state to ensure that we get our indigenes recruited. Historically, we have always been short-changed in this regard,” she stated.
Salu-Hundeyin acknowledged the common misconceptions that discourage youths from joining the military, such as fears of immediate deployment to combat zones. She assured that a military career could lead to various professional opportunities, stating, “When you are in the military, you could still become a lawyer, a doctor, or any professional. Securing your country is the most noble job anybody can do.”
She urged the youths to develop a sense of passion for their state and to view military service as a critical contribution to national security. “A country that is not secured is not a country, and an unsecured state is not a state. We are encouraging them, and who are the best people to secure? You can only secure what you are passionate about,” Salu-Hundeyin added.
The meeting aimed to ensure effective governance at the grassroots level, with the SSG underscoring the role of the secretaries as vital conduits between the government and the local population. She reiterated that policies from the state level should cascade down to the grassroots to have a positive impact on the communities.