Fight against corruption among LASTMA officers: 11 convicted, one acquitted
In a recent statement, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that 11 out of 12 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were found guilty of corruption and have been disciplined. The Acting Director General of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare, confirmed this in a statement issued by the Department of Public Affairs and Information last Friday.
Mr. Bakare stressed that these disciplinary actions were in line with existing rules in the agency as stipulated by the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
The acting director general, who was also part of the disciplinary panel, clarified that while 11 officers had been found guilty of corrupt practices, one officer had been cleared, according to the panel’s report.
The disciplinary panel, made up of three permanent secretaries, was tasked with ruling on the charges of corrupt practices leveled against the 12 officers. The recommendations made by the panel were then forwarded to the State Civil Service Commission for ratification, in accordance with Civil Service Rules.
Various sanctions were recommended by the panel, ranging from dismissal to demotion to even immediate termination of employment in the state civil service.
“We remind all controllers, commanders and agents of the agency that severe penalties will continue to be meted out to corrupt officers and agents, with the aim of ridding the agency of some harmful elements that tarnish its image,” said Mr. Bakare.
He also called on residents, especially motorists, to support the agency in its restructuring by promptly reporting any officer misconduct via the dedicated complaint hotlines (08100565860, 08129928503, 08129928515 and 08129928597), providing supporting evidence.
Finally, Mr. Bakare urged all officers to carry out their duties without fear or favor, but in accordance with the laws governing their authority. Any officer caught compromising the agency or state government will face the consequences.
He congratulated LASTMA officials for their dedication, seriousness, diligence and professionalism. However, he warned motorists against the temptation to bribe traffic officers to avoid prosecution, stressing that the law penalizes both the giver and receiver of bribes.
In conclusion, the fight against corruption within LASTMA is an important step towards promoting integrity and transparency in traffic management. Efforts to root out corrupt elements within the agency must be supported by the public and all citizens are encouraged to report any misconduct. Thanks to these disciplinary measures, LASTMA can continue to effectively fulfill its mission of regulating traffic and guaranteeing road safety.