LASTMA Officer Sacked Over Bribery

MICHAEL AKINOLAThe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) may have woken up from its slumber to clean up and weed out unprofessional officers, who are denting the image of the agency.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that this followed the recent the dismissal of bribe taking officer of the agency after being found guilty of misconduct by a Disciplinary Committee.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 10th August, 2021, and signed by the General Manager, Mr. Olajide Oduyoye.

He said the officer, who was seen in a viral post on Facebook soliciting for bribe from a vehicle owner, faced disciplinary action in accordance with the extant rules of the Lagos State Civil Service and subsequently his appointment terminated.

Oduyoye explained that the Personnel Management Board (Disciplinary Committee) set up to probe the allegation of bribery, corruption and serious act unbecoming of a Public Officer leveled against him, held a meeting on Friday, 11th June, 2021 and found him culpable of gross misconduct as stipulated in the Public Service Rules.

He noted that every organisation has its bad eggs but deemed it unfair for members of the public to categorise all LASTMA staff as corrupt, urging members of the public to share their experiences and provide evidence whenever they encounter misdemenour by the agency’s staff.

The LASTMA Chief Operating Officer implored road users in Lagos to always comply with the State Traffic Law in order not to run foul of the law, pointing out that violation will attract consequences.

Oduyoye said, “This is necessary in order to promote the ‘Greater Lagos’ vision for the benefit of all and for the realisation of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Development Agenda, particularly in respect of the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar.
He also revealed that 11 officers of the Agency have so far faced various disciplinary actions from 2020 till date, stressing that some of the officers had their appointments terminated, some demoted and others reprimanded for various infractions.

P.M.EXPRESS investigation revealed the agency may be trying to clean up the system but the challenge now is many of the officers have been infested by the corruption over the years, which means if they really want to sanitize the place, many will lose their jobs over issues of bribery.