4th April, 2012
Members of the Lagos state House of Assembly Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry have empowered the state Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) to publish names of any traffic offender who assaults officials of the Authority.
Chairman of the Committee, Bisi Yusuf, stated this during a familiarisation visit to the head office of the Authority in Oshodi, Lagos.
The Lawmaker condemned members of the public who engage LASTMA officials in physical fights stressing that anyone caught henceforth, no matter his status, should be made public and punished to serve as deterrent to others.
“LASTMA was set up to control traffic on our busy roads in the state, the Committee will not allow anybody to beat up our men or embarrass them. Anybody found wanting would not go scot free,” he said.
Another member of the Committee, Olarenwaju Oshun, commended the efforts of the management of the traffic maintenance body for its role in making Lagos traffic situation manageable.
Oshun, who was the Chairman of Transportation in the sixth Assembly, advised that LASTMA officials should be protected and be accorded every respect they deserve in carrying out their civic responsibility.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LASTMA, Mr. Young Arebame, complained about office accommodation as the biggest of body’s challenges.
Arebame further disclosed that a Provost Department had been set up for any complaint from the public either for or against LASTMA officials.
He also told the lawmakers that the Authority has sent an amendment bill that establishes the Authority to the Ministry of Justice and that this bill would soon be sent to the House for further deliberations and amendment.
He said presently the Authority has a staff strength of 2,076 while about 400 officials had been dismissed for various offences committed.
—Eromosele Ebhomele