Ayodele Olalere
It was exactly three months on August 29, 2019 the executive governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was sworn-in, as the governor of the state. Prior to his resumption, there were fears among Lagosians if the new governor would be able to continue in the footsteps of his predecessors.
However, a cursory look at the performance of the man saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the state for the next four years, in the last three months, shows Sanwo-Olu and his team mean business.
Staff welfare and restructuring of civil service
As a demonstration of his intent to ensure that the welfare of staff would be given adequate attention, his first duty, as the governor was the meeting with civil servants at the state secretariat, Alausa. At the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, where the governor met thousands of civil servants, he promised to provide them with 40 new buses to replace the dilapidated ones.
“We will look for ways to solve traffic challenges in Lagos State. We have to start from our home and one of the things is to speak with the Head of Service to re-fleet all buses immediately. Our job is a tough one but we will do it. I will give you transportation, but you have to rededicate yourself to work. I will give you between 30 and 40 buses in a couple of days,” he said.
He told the civil servants that his team could not afford to fail Lagosians and they must brace up for the challenges ahead.
Sanwo-Olu is known to walk-the-talk. Barely 48 hours after promising to provide new fleet of buses, staff at Alausa resumed to their offices to behold the sight of 40 brand new fully air-conditioned buses packed within the secretariat complex. The elated staff could not hide their joy, as they witnessed the buses, a departure from the old order.
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As first step towards restructuring the civil service, few days after his resumption, the governor approved the appointment of six new Permanent Secretaries in the state Public Service with effect from June 1.
The appointed Permanent Secretaries were Dr Eniayewun Benjamin, Medical Director, Lagos Island Maternity; Mr. Erinle Olufolami, Principal, Apapa Senior High School, Education District IV; and Mrs. Oludara Okelola, Principal, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School, Education District VI. Others were Mr. Akewusola Adedamola, Mrs. Falugba Yewande, and Mr. Osi-Efa Mustapha.
On August 19, the governor further saw the need to appoint more permanent secretaries for effective service deliveries. Thus, nine new ones for key ministries and departments were appointed and sworn-in.
At the swearing-in event held at the Banquet Hall, Governor’s Office, Sanwo-Olu said the appointees were selected for the position for their “exceptional pedigrees”, which, he said, indicated that the state was in for enhanced service delivery in its public service.
He further said they were chosen purely on merit, saying he had never met most of them personally before their appointments which could have influenced their appointments.
This, he said, was different from practices in the past where appointments were influenced based on personal relationship. He reiterated his administration’s belief in elevating merit and distinction above personal consideration.
Charging the new Permanent Secretaries, he said: “I charge our new Permanent Secretaries to see their elevation as a call for more service and to give their best to the citizens of Lagos. I have no doubt that you all will give in your best at all times. I am convinced that Lagosians are in for a renewed and enhanced public service that will take good governance to the doorsteps of ordinary people.
“These appointments are a demonstration of what is to come in the coming days. With the full cabinet, the people of Lagos will be better off with this choice and all our promises condensed in Project T.H.E.M.E.S will begin to work fully and make life easy for Lagosians. At the end of our tenure, we want to be seen to have truly improved the quality of life for greater number of residents.
He added: “I must confess I have not met most of the newly-appointed Permanent Secretaries before today. What this means is that you don’t need to see or know the Governor before your work speaks for you. Some of them whom I interacted with in the course of governance after I assumed office have shown high level of integrity and professionalism.”
Sanwo-Olu advised the state workers to be diligent in the discharge of their duty, adding that they do not need to know him or anyone in highly placed positions to be rewarded with promotions.
Zero tolerance on potholes/LASTMA 24hrs duty
Prior to his resumption, Lagosians were groaning under heavy potholes scattered across the state. Vehicles were being damaged. Many vehicle owners, both private and commercial, became regular customers to mechanics. Driving on Lagos roads became nightmares as many vehicles get damaged as a result of potholes and gullies that dotted most of the roads across the state.
Having realised the importance of good roads, the governor made his first official pronouncement by declaring zero tolerance on potholes.
While making the pronunciation, he also promised to release hotlines for potholes and quick road rehabilitation and promised to collaborate with Lagosians to take the state to the next level.
When he hosted Muslim faithful in Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja to mark the 2019 Eid-el-Fitri, the governor expressed his commitment to collaborating with residents and people of the state for successful implementation of his administration’s policies and programmes.
“We will continue to ask you to work with us. We would be calling on you at different times. Our Public Works Corporation would come out and start fixing all the potholes on our roads. We would soon publish the numbers that people would be calling to notify us of wherever there are potholes in the state,” the governor said.
As part of the Executive Order on potholes, the governor quickly directed the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, to commence patching and rehabilitation of bad roads to address the perennial problem of traffic in the state.
In a jiffy and in obedience to the Executive Order, LSPWC has commenced aggressive rehabilitation of roads around the state.
Some of the roads that have been rehabilitated or are currently being rehabilitated include: Ikotun-Igando, Point Road, Apapa by Keystone bank, Ilupeju Industrial Estate by Milo Basketball Court, Eric Moore/Abebe Junction, Surulere, Iju Road, Fagba Junction, Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Glover road junction to Falomo, Ilupeju Avenue by Ilupeju Secondary School, Mushin, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Herbert Macaulay/Afrique Road, Lagos Mainland, Ogudu road, etc.
To also demonstrate his commitment towards reduction of traffic on Lagos roads, the governor, on May 30, 2019, a day after he resumed office, visited the office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and asked the agency to run at least two shifts and work till 11pm. As a morale booster, the governor announced 100 per cent increased in their allowance.
The governor declared total war on traffic offence, saying special courts would be created to try offenders, who will be made to serve their punishment if found guilty at the point of contravention.
He said his administration would not spare anyone, irrespective of status that endangers lives of road users by disobeying the state traffic regulations.
“We want the people to obey Lagos traffic law. We want them to understand that they are not the only road users who have right of way. If you want my government to finish well, don’t drive against the traffic.
“We are working with the Acting Chief Judge of the State to set up special mobile courts that will dispense judgment on traffic offences. Any offender would be made to serve the punishment immediately, which could be in form of compulsory community service. We are declaring zero tolerance for disobedience to traffic rules,” he said.
He added: “Lagosians are not going to wait for us any longer to maintain orderliness on our roads; hence, I have invited all the Security Chiefs to witness the signing of the executive order so that they can hear us and support us in this regard.
“We want to ensure that we control traffic until everybody gets home safely, LASTMA should, therefore, extend its working hours and ensure traffic control till 11pm.”
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The governor backed his talks with action by restoring security backups and towing vans for traffic law enforcement operations
To ensure the governor’s orders are strictly followed, LASTMA rolled out sanctions for traffic offenders. Some of the sanctions introduced were N200,000 for one-way offence, failure to use seat belt, unclosed doors or standing on the doorway while in motion, now attracts N20,000 each. Parking on the highway, obstruction of traffic, picking or dropping passengers on illegal bus-stop also attracts N50,000 fines.
Also, anyone who reverse on the highway, drives on kerbs and parks on walkways would pay N50,000 penalty. Driving on BRT designated lanes attracts N70,000, while dropping passengers on laybys attracts N90,000 fine. And for every night a seized vehicle spends in the custody of LASTMA, a N1,000 fine is paid.
The mobile courts were also put on alert. Sanctions by mobile courts goes between N100,000 to N150,000 initial fine payable by a violator who is still on trial, while the offender must keep appearing in court till the case is closed.
Zero tolerance on indiscriminate disposal of waste
One of the cardinal points of Sanwo-Olu’s administration is clean environment. As soon as he assumed office, the governor made his intention to return the state to its lost glory of one of the cleanest states in Africa. Piqued by the rate at which refuse had taken over the state and its health implications, the governor declared zero tolerance on environment and indiscriminate disposal of wastes.
On May 30, the governor signed executive order on refuse management at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. He said the order would ensure the attainment of zero tolerance for environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and construction of structures on drainage points and setbacks.
While signing the order, the governor said: “As from the date of this order, there shall be zero tolerance for environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, construction on drainage points and setbacks.”
He added: “I think we have to make some points about issues that happen around transportation, potholes on our roads, blockages and the rest of it. I think it’s something we need to tackle immediately.”
The governor signed the Order in the presence of security chiefs and heads of relevant agencies in the state, and said the support and cooperation of military personnel could not be over emphasised in the implementation of the Order.
Sanwo-Olu directed the Office of Drainage Service in the Ministry of the Environment to commence aggressive clearing of all secondary and tertiary drainage systems across the state to ensure the free flow of rain water during the rainy season.
He also directed the state Environmental Sanitation Corps to address environmental issues in the executive order by not necessarily arresting people but engaging them in effective communication on the need to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
“Environmental Offenders are not meant to be arrested, but communicate with them; the one that need to reprimand, let us reprimand, the ones we need to advise let us advise. The people that need to be reformed, reform them,” he said.
