Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State has announced a reduction of it’s staffs working days to three per week, as well as a reduction of levies paid by traders and other residents.
The council’s chairman, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi who made the declaration in a statement in Agege on Tuesday, said the measures were necessary in light of the economic difficulties caused by the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidies.
He said that the local government’s employees were also suffering as a result of the economic situation.
He said “Our staff are not spared of the prevailing economic hardship brought about by oil subsidy removal by the government.
“While the subsidy regime removal is welcomed as it was only benefitting few elites and smugglers at the expense of the critical sectors of the economy and the common man.
“The council leadership is not unmindful of the unintended consequences it foisted on our staff and residents.
“At this trying time, the council on my watch is determined to give solace to members of staff, residents and business operators in some measure,” he said.
Egunjobi added: “Various forms of levies paid to the council by residents and business operators are hereby lowered.”
The council chairman, however, said the number of working days assigned to workers had been reduced to three, based on the roster so as to reduce the amount of money spent on transportation daily.
According to him, it is meant to reduce the sum of money staff spend on commuting from home to work and vice versa in the face of rising fares.
He said only staff in the departments of Health and Environment, who were expected to be in office on usual days were exempted from the new development.
The council boss, however, ordered the four free school shuttle buses meant to convey the public school children to begin transporting the workers freely, pending the resumption of students.