Economic Hardship: Sanwo-Olu approves work-from-home, slashes transport fare

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, announced a 25 percent rebate on fares for government-owned transport schemes.

The governor spoke during a live media chat to intimate residents of steps being taken to reduce the economic burden on Lagosians.

On Tuesday, the Lagos State House of Assembly resolved to summon the state commissioners for agriculture and transportation to brief lawmakers on what they were doing to make life more bearable for residents given the economic hardship confronting the country.

Announcing measures the government was taking, the governor said civil servants from levels one to 14 would begin to work only three days a week as part of a measure to ease the economic challenges on residents.

“As a government, we cannot be everything and everywhere but we can provide and create avenues for others to join us. The first we have done or will be doing from today going forward is that we want to start with our public servants. Even the challenge that we see now, can we be creative and have flexible working hours? From next week, we are working out the plans where civil servants from levels one to 14 will come to the office a maximum of three times a week. Not that any form of government will be shut down, it will all be calendarised and it will be on schedule. Levels 15 to 17 will miss work a day,” he said.

On transport, Sanwo-Olu said, “We are also implementing a 25 percent reduction on transport services for the state public transport system (BRT, train, ferry), putting back over N500m monthly into the pockets of Lagosians. With the Red Line Rail about to be launched, there will be a lot more options for our residents.

We are also in discussions with various unions to reduce their fares, and we will announce any new developments.”

The governor said the state would be exploring three major avenues to ensure Lagosians get affordable foodstuffs to ease the economic burden.