MICHAEL AKINOLA
Lagos State Traffic and Management Authority, LASTMA, may have commenced move to sanitize the agency by terminating the appointment of five officers over bribery and corruption while two others were reprimanded for being absent on duty post.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the ratification of recommendations of the Personnel Management Board by the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (C.S.C) on the seven indicted officials.
Following the recommendations, LASTMA) on Friday, 8th December, 2023, released letters of Termination of Appointments and Reprimand to all 7 indicted officials of the Agency at Oshodi, Lagos.
In a press statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that every recommendations made by the Personnel Management Board on the indicted LASTMA officials during their meeting on Tuesday, 19 August, 2023 were ratified by the Lagos State Civil Service Commission.
Adebayo said, “While Five LASTMA officials indicted for corruptions received letter of termination of appointment’, remaining two received letter of ‘Reprimand’ for absence from duty posts without leave”.
Similarly, the Acting General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakara Oki Olalekan, has stated that the disciplinary action taken was in line with the extant rules as guided by the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
Oki maintained that the Agency would only get better if and when members of the public shared their experiences, including positive ones, and provided evidence where applicable of perceived misdemeanours.
He implored road users in Lagos to always comply with the State Traffic Law in order not to run foul of the law, which will attract penalties as stated in the law.
According to him, “This is necessary for all of us to promote a Greater Lagos for the benefit of all and for the realization of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s objectives in the First Pillar of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda (Traffic Management and Transportation)”.
“We wish to add by informing well-meaning and concerned Lagos residents and the motoring public that we have various windows through which complaints can be channelled for prompt action – 08100565860, 08129928515, 08129928503, (08129928597 WhatsApp only) & Provost on 08129928490.
He assured that such complaints shall be investigated dispassionately with despatch while enjoining every motoring public to abide by the Lagos State Transportation Sector Reform Law 2018.
Mr. Bakare Oki disclosed that cases against remaining 14 indicted LASTMA Officials were undergoing additional administrative review.
The latest decision were said to have caused panic among other officers as they have realized that it was no longer business as usual and heads may continue to roll in the agency with the new management policy.