Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has celebrated a former deputy governor of the state and member, Governance Advisory Council, Femi Pedro, on his 70th birthday.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday in Lagos, described Mr Pedro as a devoted, committed, trustworthy, and seasoned technocrat.

The governor also described him as a visionary and selfless leader who used his position to develop the state.

Mr Pedro, who will be 70 on Wednesday, served as the deputy governor to President Bola Tinubu when he was the governor of Lagos State from 2003 to2007.

The governor said, “On behalf of my adorable wife, family, the good people and government of Lagos State as well as members of the GAC, I congratulate my dear elder brother and former deputy governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro, on his 70th birthday. Otunba Pedro is a seasoned banker of high repute. As the deputy governor of Lagos, Pedro used his banking experience to contribute positively to the growth of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue. As the Chairman of the Lagos State Revenue Mobilisation Committee, his team restructured, reorganised, and re-engineered the Board of Inland Revenue. They also increased Lagos State’s internally generated revenue from N300 million per month to seven naira billion within 18 months. On this occasion of his 70th birthday, I wish my former boss, Otunba Femi Pedro, good health as he joins the league of septuagenarians. I also pray that God will give him more strength as he continues to render more service to humanity, Lagos State, and Nigeria.’’

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the former deputy governor, while in office, worked closely with Mr Tinubu to put Lagos State on the path of economic viability and a model state.

He added that the foundation built by Mr Tinubu, assisted by Mr Pedro is what the successive administrations have built on to make Lagos a state to reckon with not only in Nigeria but at the international level.

(NAN)