Culled from Punch
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, turned 50 last week. Not unexpectedly, it went without fanfare, in keeping with the man’s character.
What better time than now – on the occasion of his 50th birthday, and midway into his second and final term as Governor of Lagos State – to reflect on his impact on Lagos, and on the place of the city in the Nigeria of the 21st century.
Lagos is Africa’s second most populated city – estimates range from 12 million to 18 million, depending on who you’re asking – and one of the fastest growing “megacities” in the world; expected to add another five million inhabitants by 2025.
Starting from May 3, Lagos civil servants in the ministries of Transport, Land Bureau, Physical Planning and Urban Development will now work on Saturdays, .
They will resume at 10am and close at 2pm.
Governor Babatunde Fashola announced this at LTV8 Blue Roof multipurpose hall while rendering an account of his stewardship to the people on his 2,100 days in office onnthe 26th of February.
Fashola said on Saturdays, workers at the Ministry of Transport would attend to issues relating to drivers’ training, drivers’ licence and traffic enforcement.
Those in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development would deal with complaints on building permits and related matters while those in Land Bureau would deal with land issues. The governor said the decision to commence the pilot service was informed by some people’s desire to access such services, if they are made available on Saturdays.
He said the Head of Service has been mandated to publish details of how it would work and the scope of work on Saturdays, except the last Saturday of every month, which is Sanitation Day.
