By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, last month carried out a massive shake-up in the history of Lagos State public service as he announced the dissolution of all boards of parastatals and agencies of government with immediate effects as part of the reforms by  his administration to boost efficiency.

Alausa

The dissolution came barely 19 days after his swearing in inauguration. It following a stormy meeting he held wih heads of the state’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in Ikeja. Lagos State has 85 parastatals, including agencies. Interestingly, when Ambode announced the dissolution of boards, there were different insinuations read into the move from various quarters.

Ongoingrestructuring

While some said it would not affect the heads of the parastatals and agencies, others predicted doom  for the heads warning them to start clearing their desks as the axe would soon fall on them. Not too long after, the axes, truly, started coming down, claiming the heads one after the other.

The governor, who is yet to constitute his cabinet due to some not too obvious reasons, including the  on-going restructuring, approved the adoption of professional Human Resource Management practices in the state public service.

Ambode, in an unprecedented policy, announced his direction in a circular released by the Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji.  According to Jaji, “This is part of the present administration’s efforts in building a public service that is well structured, better organized and whose staff posses the right attitude, skills and motivation to perform their roles efficiently and effectively.”

Jaji maintained that with the commencement of the professional HRM practices in the state public service, the hitherto Finance and Administration Department which was the core of every Ministry, Department and Agency, MDAs of government, will henceforth, be known as the Administration and Human Resource Department.

Some of the earliest victims include:  the sister of the former Governor of Lagos State, Ms Olayinka Fashola, who was the General Manager, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA. Also, on  June 19, Ambode,  sacked the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation,  Mr Taofeek Oki, and three principal officers of the corporation. The governor approved the appointment of Mr. Jacob Agosu as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.

Ambode, also approved the immediate re-organisation of the LSDPC to stem the tide of negative capital returns in the corporation. On July 2, he approved the appointment of Mr. Peter Okonji as the new General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, thereby, replacing the former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s close pal, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi following her resignation.

Ogunbiyi, who started as a civil servant, it was learned, resigned after the governor reversed her initial promotion approved by Fashola. Her promotion, it was gathered was done without due regards to the state civil service rules and regulations.

Civil servicerules

On  July 6, 2015, Ambode appointed Mr. Michael Kolawole Akindele as the new General Manager for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA. Akindele who replaced Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, was a former Vice Chairman Ikeja Local Government Area, then Special Assistant on Health to former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between 2004-2007.

He also served as Senior Special assistant on LASEMA, between 2007-2011. Akindele, most recently served between, 2011-2015 as Senior Special Assistant on Housing to Fashola. On 17 July, the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, Mr. George Noah was sacked and replaced by his deputy Mr. Olumide Sogunle in acting capacity.

Noah assumed office in 2011; succeeding Mr. Tunji Bello, who was then the Managing Director of the agency from where he was appointed as Environment Commissioner by Governor Babatunde Fashola. Presently, Bello, is the Secretary to the State Government. Other sacked agency heads include: General Manger, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler and Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya.

Recently, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga was appointed as the Director General of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC). Onanuga, who takes over from Mr. Rotimi Adekunle Hussain as the DG, was until her appointment, the Executive Director, Technical in LASPEC.  Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Tunde Fowler, was also sacked.

Heads ofagencies

Fate of the following heads of agencies hanging in the balance include: The General Manager Urban Furniture and Regulatory Unit, UFRU, Joe Igbokwe; Lagos Water Cooperation, Shayo Holloway, Lagos, Managing Director, LAGBUS Assets Management, Babatunde Disu and the General Manager, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Lanre Gbajabiamila. Executive Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bolajoko Fashola, Managing Director,  Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dayo Moberola.

Also, the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Building Investment Company Limited, Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, Lagos State Printing Cooperation, Lagos State Television, Lagos State Traffic Radio, Eko FM, Radio Lagos, among others are said to be jittery over their job as the dangling axe could fall on them any time.

Future endeavours

Ambode, while expressing his appreciation to those sacked for their modest contributions to the state wished them well in their future endeavours.  It will be recalled that Ambode at the swearing in ceremony on May 29th, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos Island, said, “I want to assure the business community and corporate Lagos that the ease of doing business in Lagos will be improved upon earnestly.   Lagos is open for greater business.

“We want you to fly into Lagos, start your business, find your way; live, work and enjoy in Lagos.” According to the governor, most of the parastatals will be subsumed into related existing ministries why some will be entirely scrapped because of huge financial commitment considered as wastages. Not left out in the current fever wave are the Permanent Secretaries, who according to sources could be affected through, redeployment of ministries and appointment of others.

The sack and restructuring referred to as “Tsunami”, which is still claiming victims along its way, was said to have received the blessing of All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Tinubu. Consequently, everyone, are on their toes, because no one knows who is next on the line to be fired in the surgical-like operation of Ambode’s on-going restructuring.