Lagos Governor employs two physically-challenged persons as traffic wardens

By The Citizen

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has offered employment to three persons, including two physically challenged persons as traffic wardens in the state.

The physically-challenged persons, Anthony Edewor and Salisu Adamu were until Tuesday, voluntarily controlling traffic in Marina axis of the state without pay.

Another voluntary traffic warden, Salisu Audu who directs traffic at the National Stadium Surulere axis was also rewarded with an opportunity to earn salary for their efforts as well as other benefits.

Fashola made the offer at the official launching of the Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute and Graduation Ceremony of 3, 311 officers of LASTMA and KAI held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Announcing the offer, Fashola said: 'They have been directing traffic in Lagos without reward for years but their story will change from today.'

'As we focus on the story of Anthony Edewor, it showed that many of us see things that needed urgent attention but we didn't respond. And someone said that it isn't only Anthony that directs traffic in Marina, there is Salisu Adamu who also directs traffic on that axis.

'Of course, someone remembered that there was another person who also directs traffic at the National stadium junction, Surulere. And that person is Salisu Audu.

'Today, we are engaging them with rewards. We will keep them at the posts where they have served faithfully.

'And they will continue to do what they have done for years. We believe that they have done all these because of the passion they have for the job. The Head of

Service will issue them their letter of employment and their monthly remuneration.'

Fashola who also announced that LASTMA and KAI officers have been absorbed into the state civil service as full fledged staff of the state government.

He said that officers of KAI and LASTMA will be absorbed in a new cadre known as the Law Enforcement Cadre under the State Public Service Act, as part of government's effort to reform officers of both agencies.

Fashola however warned that with the new development, officers who flout civil service rules would be dealt with, while those who serve selflessly will earn rewards.

He said: 'An officer, who loses his temper in the public space, will have a second chance. An officer, who brutalises the citizens, will not have the second chance. It is going to require a lot of patience, restraint, maturity and passion to do the work and live up to the brand that we now put forward.

'What does this reform means? It means in all the thirty offices where you work in difficult condition are now the subject of remake.

'We are already rebuilding. We are already refurnishing. We are also re-equipping all the offices. I am told that the first four offices are ready and another batch of four will be ready.

'Instead of being ad-hoc staff, you are now full-fledged public servants of the state. Your work will entitle you all the benefits that the permanent staff members enjoy including pension rights. It will entitle to pension rights under our contributory pension scheme.' – Guardian