By Oluwole Farotimi
Piqued by the Lekki Gardens building collapse, which killed 34 people, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, sacked the General Manager of the Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Adeigbe Olushola.
The governor, in a statement signed by the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, also approved the dismissal of the Head of Inspection and Quality Control in the agency, Adeoye Thomas Adeyemi, the Zonal District Officer, Dosunmu Gbadebo, while the Zonal Head of Eti-Osa West of the Agency, Mrs. Akinde Adenike Sherifat was compulsorily retired from the civil service.
Ambode, according to the statement, said the affected officers were dismissed having been indicted of negligence, which, according to him, is an act of misconduct under the Public Service Rule 040401.
The statement noted that, “Rule 040401 of the Public Service Act of Misconduct states inter alia: “A willful act of omission or general misconduct to the scandal of the pubic or to the prejudice of discipline and proper administration of the state government should be visited with dismissal from the public service in line with the Public Service Rule 040503.”
Furthermore, the disciplinary measure was the outcome of the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board to Ambode, who said he was grieved by the high number of fatalities from the building collapse.
Ademola also warned public officials, private building owners or contractors who violate or subvert building regulations that it would no longer be business as usual, saying that the dismissal of the officers will serve as a wake-up call to public servants. “It is also a clarion call to them to be alive to their responsibilities as any act of negligence will face sanctions, while hardworking officers will be rewarded appropriately,” the HoS said.
On Tuesday, March 8, a building under construction at Lekki Gardens, Ikusenla Road, Ikate Elegushi, collapsed as a result of which many people died, and the state government immediately mobilised all its rescue team comprising the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), among others, which led to the successful rescue of over 15 persons.
Meanwhile, Ambode, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Olu of Warri, Emiko Ogiame Ikenwoli I yesterday expressed the need for ethnic nationalities in the country to live harmoniously. The governor and monarchs, who canvassed this position when the Olu of Warri paid courtesy visits to the Oba and governor of the state, noted that such was the condition required for peace, progress and development to thrive.
Ambode, who received the Olu of Warri, who paid him a courtesy visit, said the quantum of development, which the nation would experience in a harmonious and peaceful environment, couldn’t be under estimated, and therefore all hands must be on deck to promote peace.
He recalled that the history of the Yoruba nation cannot be completed without reference to the Itsekiri nation, and as such, both tribes must jealously guard and improve on the historical relationship.
Congratulating King Emiko on the successful ascension to the throne of his forefathers few months back, Ambode said he believed so much in the ability of the monarch to turn around the fortunes of Warri for good as he had been doing even before his appointment as king.