By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) caught on camera a few months ago has been dismissed.
This development was confirmed by the state government’s agency in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
Personnel of the traffic management agency, whose name was not given, was seen in a video requesting a bribe from a motorist apprehended for violating a traffic law.
The man was heard in the motion image exposing how the organisation works, disclosing that money made from their operations are shared by some bigwigs in the state and this caused an outrage on social media.
The action of the LASTMA officer prompted the management of the organisation to look into the matter.
In the statement issued today and signed by the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, it was explained that the officer was found guilty of misconduct by a disciplinary committee and was subsequently dismissed from the Lagos State Civil Service.
Mr Oduyoye said the Personnel Management Board (Disciplinary Committee) set up to probe the allegation of bribery, corruption and serious act unbecoming of a public officer levelled against the sacked official held a meeting on Friday, June 11, 2021 and found him culpable of gross misconduct as stipulated in the public service rules.
The GM, in the statement, noted that every organisation has its bad eggs but deemed it unfair for members of the public to categorise all LASTMA staff as corrupt, urging members of the public to share their experiences and provide evidence whenever they encounter misdemeanour by the agency’s staff.
The LASTMA Chief Operating Officer implored road users in Lagos to always comply with the state traffic law in order not to run afoul of the law, pointing out that violation will attract consequences.
He also revealed that 11 officers of the agency have so far faced various disciplinary actions from last year till date, stressing that some of the officers had their appointments terminated, some demoted and others reprimanded for various infractions.
