* Appoints 9 Christian, 2 Muslim Permanent Secretaries in Health ministry
* 22 Christians, 6 Muslims head General Hospitals in Lagos
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s recent appointments into top civil service positions in Lagos State have reignited concerns among Muslim professionals and stakeholders, who say they are being persistently sidelined—particularly in key sectors such as Health and Education.
Stakeholders argue that the Governor is sacrificing merit for religious favoritism, a move they claim departs from the inclusive legacy of his predecessors. They point to what they describe as a consistent pattern of marginalisation of Muslims in strategic appointments under the Sanwo-Olu administration.
The latest appointments were confirmed in a circular issued on September 23, 2025 by the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, listing nine new permanent secretaries across various ministries.
Among them are Dr. Femi Omololu (No 1) and Dr. Sola Pitan (No 9), both senior figures in the health sector who were elevated following the retirement of their predecessors.
However, findings by Muslim News revealed that with the addition of Omololu and Pitan, the Lagos State Ministry of Health now has 11 Permanent Secretaries, with Christians holding 9 positions and Muslims occupying only 2.
Table 2: The 9 Christians
They are Dr. Olusegun Ogboye (Christian), Dr. (Mrs) Lajide Oludayo Ibidun (Christian), Dr. Bowale Abimbola (Christian), Dr. Asiyanbi Oladapo Olubanwo (Christian), Dr. Mabogunje Cecelia Abimbola (Christian), Dr. (Mrs) Zamba Olutoyin Emanuella (Christian), Dr. Idowu (Christian), Dr. Femi Omololu (Christian) and Dr. Sola Pitan (Christian).
Two Muslims:
Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa (Muslim), and Dr. (Mrs) Adeleke Monsura (Muslim).
A repeat of marginalisation of Muslims in education sector
The latest appointments in the Lagos State Ministry of Health follow the same controversial pattern earlier reported by Muslim News in the Ministry of Education, where Muslim professionals were completely excluded from top leadership roles.
It will be recalled that all six Tutor-Generals/Permanent Secretaries currently overseeing the state’s education districts—as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education —are Christians, leaving no Muslim in any of these critical leadership positions.
Table 3: All the six Christian-only Tutor-Generals
Dr. (Mrs.) Idowu Olufunke Oyetola (District III), Mr. Olusegun Osinaike (District IV ), Mrs. Mojisola Christiana Yusuf (District VI) and Mr. Hassan David (Dauda) Abiodun (District V). The newly included two officials are Paseda Olufemi Bamidele and Sanni Omotayo Layemo, representing District I and II respectively.
Muslim stakeholders described this trend as deliberate and deeply troubling, calling it a systemic exclusion that threatens the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and representation in a religiously diverse state like Lagos.
“It is hard to believe this is coincidental,” a civil servant, who simply identified himself Kazeem remarked. “This repeated pattern in both Health and Education ministries points to a worrying disregard for balance and merit. It’s disheartening.”
The situations in the Lagos General Hospitals
The situation extends beyond the Permanent Secretary level. According to records, 22 out of the 28 General Hospitals in Lagos State are headed by Christian Medical Directors, while only six are Muslims — a disparity that many in the sector say reflects deep-seated bias.
Dr. Abdul Lateef, a senior medical practitioner, questioned the criteria used in the appointments. “We have Muslim professionals who are highly qualified and experienced, yet they are constantly overlooked for leadership positions,” he said. “Most times, those appointed are junior in rank or lack certain qualifications.”
Dr Abdul Lateef further alleged that Dr. Pitan, one of the new appointees, was promoted rapidly despite lacking key professional certifications. “He only recently reached Grade Level 17 and is not a Fellow of any recognised Postgraduate Medical College — a key requirement for heading multi-specialist centres like the General Hospital Lagos (Odan),” he stated.
A health expert, Mr. Yusuf, noted that more qualified Muslim candidates exist within the system. “We have professionals with advanced degrees in health management and impressive service records, yet they are sidelined,” he said.
Also, sources within the medical community alleged that the second of the newly appointed permanent secretaries, Dr. Omololu is a close associate of the Governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu — a claim that adds to suspicions of political favouritism.
“I must be fair to say that Dr. Omololu is qualified for the position,” said Adelabu Mumeen, a concerned stakeholder. “But there are more competent and senior Muslim professionals who have been ignored.”
He questioned the fairness of appointing two Christians when the religious distribution was already skewed. “By the fact that two people were being considered for the position, Mr. Governor should have balanced it — one Christian and one Muslim,” he added.
Stakeholders are also drawing attention to Muslim professionals who played critical roles during health crises such as the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic, but who have allegedly received little or no recognition.
“These are people who risked their lives for Lagos. Rather than promote or honour them, the Governor continues to sideline them in favour of his close allies and Christian associates,” Mumeen noted.
Over the past six years, Governor Sanwo-Olu has consistently sidelined qualified Muslims, reducing them to spectators in their own state. Stakeholders said it raises serious concerns about systemic exclusion and sectarian governance.
Sidelining Muslims in Commissioner Appointments
Muslim stakeholders are reminding Gov. Sanwo-Olu of the massive support he received from the Muslim community during the hotly contested 2023 gubernatorial election.
That election marked a historic moment, as prominent Muslim leaders, scholars, and organisations openly endorsed Sanwo-Olu — a rare move in Lagos politics. The support came at a time when the Governor faced stiff opposition from within his Christian base due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to power.
Muslim News had reported how Council of Ulama and Divisional Imams urged their congregations during Friday sermons to vote for Sanwo-Olu in the interest of Muslim unity and political stability, especially for the incoming Tinubu administration.
The strong show of support however appears to have been met with disappointment. Following his re-election, Sanwo-Olu submitted a list of 39 commissioner-nominees to the Lagos State House of Assembly, only 8 of whom were Muslims. This triggered condemnations from the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF), an umbrella body of Lagos Muslim organisations.
At a world press conference, the JMF rejected the commissioners’ list, describing it as “insensitive to diversity and an affront to the collective sensibilities of Muslims in the state.”
They noted that Muslims constitute over 60% of Lagos State’s population and voting bloc, yet their representation in government continues to fall below 20%, particularly in key ministries like Health and Education.
Observers warn that the governor’s decisions could have far-reaching political consequences for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. Muslims, who form a large part of the electorate, have vowed to reconsider their political support if the alleged marginalization continues.
“This is not about religion in politics—it is about fairness. Governance is about balance. If one side is excluded, resentment will grow. Mr. Sanwo-Olu is gambling with the political future of APC in Lagos,” a political analyst, Ahmad Ismaila noted.
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