By 
By Braxton Ilobah
No fewer than 1000 operatives with the Lagos State Transport Management Agency, (LASTMA) may soon be shown the way out of the organization, for what an insider said will be a general overall of the outfit by the acting General Manager, Mr Ore Agba Bolaji.
The source revealed to securityreporters.com that over the years, LASTMA has been overwhelmed by the activities of disgruntled politicians who planted their thugs and street urchins otherwise known as area boys there. It said a top government official at the governor’s office in Alausa, has mandated the acting GM, to, as a matter of great urgency, send packing this set of operatives.
” Also to be sacked from the Agency are those who had pending cases over corruption, extortion and incivility to members of the public. The source said that such matters were treated with levity and lukewarm attitude by the last adminstration.
“We thank God that the acting GM is not a politician, but a core professional who has endeared himself to the hearts of concerned stakeholders with his operational know- how ” said an official who pleaded anonymity.
“The new Management is out to send packing corrupt and “hooligans” at the Agency. Lagos must be the real center of excellence in the country” said the officer.
Several calls made to the Agency’s spokesman, Mr Olumide Falade, were not answered, but some of the staff spoken to under condition of anonymity, confirmed the impending mass sack of bad eggs and “political thugs” at the Agency.
PRESS RELEASE
LASTMA MANAGEMENT REFUTES ONLINE STORY
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authourity (LASTMA) has refuted an unconfirmed and unsubstantiated online story titled “LASTMA moves to clean its Acts…Axe Dangles on over 1000 operatives”.
LASTMA Comptroller, Bolaji Oreagba, presently the acting general manager of LASTMA has denied any contact with the publisher of the online news. He further stated that no such news emanated from him or any of his official sources and wonders where the publisher sourced the news.
Oreagba further advised the media to always confirm news from credible sources that can be quoted and not publish news that can be discredited or considered fake. This could lead to genuineness, credibility and trust issues of the media with the members of the public.
He noted that the extant laws of the Lagos State Civil Service rules and regulations still exist to deal with any misdemeanor by any LASTMA officer found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties. Whilst also noting that once you are offered employment by the state government, it ceases to matter, whoever or however you came into the service, therefore you are henceforth guided by the civil service rules.
Oreagba also noted that it is only the Head and appointed spokespersons for the Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals that can provide credible sources of information to the media and general public, while he stressed that any officer caught in divulging unconfirmed information shall surely face the music in accordance to the civil service rules. He therefore advised that the media practice good, balanced and unbiased journalism.
Filade Olumide
Asst. Director, Public Affairs
LASTMA