Sanwo-olu approves 100 percent increment to LASTMA allowances

• Says no cabinet member will be exempted from traffic rules

By Olanrewaju Adesanya

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday, announced one hundred percent increase in the allowances of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA officials.

According to him, the gesture is to encourage the officers improve on their performances and rid the State of traffic gridlocks.

He also removed the cover of protection on anyone who flouts the state’s traffic regulations, asking the agency officials to do their work no matter whose horse is gored, even if such persons are members of his family or aides.

Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during an interactive session with staff of the agency when he visited LASTMA’s Headquarters at Oshodi, Lagos.

The increment was to encourage and motivate the workers in the performance of their duties and a fulfillment of his vision to make traffic management and transportation number one priority in his administration.

He said: “As from the end of the month of July, we shall increase your allowances by 100 per cent. That means if you are collecting N5,000 as your allowance, it would be increased to N10, 000. Those collecting N10, 000 before would now be getting N20,000. This would enable you perform optimally. To whom much is given, much is expected”, Sanwo-Olu said.  

In the same vein, the Governor warned the officers to desist from any act of corruption or corrupt tendencies, urging the operatives to imbibe civility as a major guiding principle in their operations.

He reminded LASTMA officials that Lagosians want a decent and corrupt free LASTMA, and as such they should be courteous in the discharge of their responsibility.

“Lagosians expect a corrupt free LASTMA that will not go about collecting bribes from motorists. Be respectful and courteous even when you are going to arrest an offender. Lagosians want LASTMA that is decent, they want neatness. We don’t want laziness and lateness to work. Be my ambassadors,” the governor said.

Some LASTMA officials who spoke during the session appealed to the Governor to assist the agency in some areas such as equipment, medical treatment and insurance for them to deliver more efficiently.

In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced free treatment for every LASTMA official in the State. He also promised a more conducive working environment for the staff such as repair of damaged vehicles and motorbikes, provision of raincoats, and other tools.

On operation of commercial motorcycles (okada) on highways, tricycles and indiscriminate parking of imported vehicles by the roadside, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he will have a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives to look at the existing laws and better way for their enforcement for the benefit of every Lagosian.

“There are rules that guide operation of commercial motorcycles. The Lagos State law has stated okada should not operate on some roads. We will have a meeting with security operatives on what we should do.”

”We are not going to condone people obstructing our roads. I am now taking it as warning to all those parking their vehicles on the road such as importers of tokunbo vehicles to comply by removing them from the road because we will come one day and take all the vehicles off the road. People should provide space for their businesses,” Sanwo-Olu warned.

The governor also warned members of his cabinet, their family members and friends against contravening traffic rules. He said ”I will tell my cabinet members that if you are caught or apprehended violating my traffic rules, you will pay.”                          

The staff also used the opportunity to seek the governor’s support for the provision of adequate security for those whose operations have been extended to 11pm, improvement in their welfare packages, rehabilitation of roads, trainings, and enforcement of existing regulations, to aid their operations.