Thousands of civil and public servants on Saturday participated in a fitness walk organised by the Lagos State Government as part of activities marking the 2026 Public Service Week.
The exercise, which attracted over 4,000 participants, featured aerobics and a brisk walk through Alausa and adjoining communities in Ikeja, promoting physical fitness, healthy living and workplace wellness among public sector employees.
The event, held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, was led by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, alongside the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, and the Principal Secretary to President Bola Tinubu and former Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Also in attendance were members of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, heads of extra-ministerial departments and offices, and civil and public servants from the mainstream public service, commissions and local governments across the state.
Participants commenced the exercise with aerobics sessions before embarking on a brisk walk around the Alausa-Ikeja communities.
The initiative provided an opportunity for workers across various government institutions and cadres to engage in physical activity, social interaction and activities that promote healthier lifestyles.
Addressing the participants, Dr Hamzat commended the public servants for turning out in large numbers to participate in the exercise, stressing the importance of prioritising personal health and well-being.
He noted that the exercise reflected the health and dignity component of his campaign PROMISE to Lagosians as espoused in the first pillar, P – People First agenda, adding, “They say health is wealth. So, a healthy Lagos is a wealthy Lagos, and you are an important part of that promise.”
The Deputy Governor also acknowledged the strategic role of the public service in the implementation of government policies and programmes, describing the civil service as the “Machinery of Government”.
According to him, “Without a functional and effective civil service, nothing gets done.”
He urged public servants to take pride in their contributions to governance, noting that they were responsible for documenting government decisions and ensuring their implementation.
Referring to the ongoing electioneering period, Hamzat also responded to comments made during a political debate the previous day, where the civil service was reportedly identified as a problem confronting Lagos State.
He contrasted the position, maintaining that public servants remained indispensable to the delivery of government policies and development programmes.
Hamzat further commended the workforce for its contributions to the state’s development, observing that Lagos’ economic achievements were driven in part by the dedication and professionalism of its public servants.
He stressed the need to extend prosperity to more households and businesses across the state.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, disclosed that the exercise attracted over 4,000 participants and expressed optimism that subsequent editions in January and February would record even greater participation.
He also acknowledged the commitment of the workforce, while reiterating the importance of collective participation in activities that promote staff well-being.
Also speaking, Muri-Okunola described public servants as key implementers of government policies and programmes.
He commended their contributions to the state’s development and urged them to sustain their commitment to public service.
The fitness walk formed part of the Lagos State Government’s activities to promote a healthier workforce, strengthen camaraderie among public servants and reinforce the importance of staff well-being in effective service delivery.
