Ambode scraps ministries, fires LSDPC director

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, on Friday abolished some ministries in the state and relieved Taofeek Oki of his duties as the managing director of the Lagos state development and property corporation (LSDPC).

He also scrapped all parastatal monitoring offices (PMO) and ordered that all the ministries assigned with the responsibility of superintending over some parastatals and boards to henceforth sorely undertake such erstwhile responsibilities of the defunct PMO on such parastatals, agencies and boards.

Ambode also abolished the ministry of rural affairs and directed that the legislative powers bureau be merged with the new office of civic engagement.

The governor ordered that the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs be renamed ministry of local government and community affairs, with additional responsibilities.

He also re-assigned the debt management office and office of the special adviser on taxation and revenue to the ministry of finance.

The governor ordered that the former ministry of tourism and inter-governmental relations be relieved of the inter-governmental relations mandate and the ministry of home affairs and culture be added to the ministry of tourism.

“It is now to be known and addressed as the ministry of tourism, arts and culture,” he said.

“The hitherto distinct responsibilities of the office of drainage services and office of environmental services have been merged.”

Meanwhile, the governor said the state would consider adopting a ‘rent and own’ policy in resolving its housing deficiency.

He acknowledged that it was not easy for a winner of a three-bedroom flat, under the state government’s housing scheme, to make an initial payment of about N5 million – half the cost – before spreading out the balance through monthly payments.

Ambode noted that it was unnecessary for a bachelor or spinster to own a three-bedroom flat, saying that it was better for those in this category to get studio apartments and upgrade to more spacious accommodations when they get married and started having children.

He appreciated the solid foundation already laid by his predecessors in office and called for suggestions and constructive criticism by all residents, including the media, so as to build on what was on ground.

On dwindling federal allocation, Ambode said that the state would enlarge its internally generated revenue drive, without bringing hardship to residents.

He said less than half of the taxable adults in the state currently meet their civic obligations and it was time more were made to key in without increasing taxation.

Ambode also said that more effort would be put in place to promote tourism in the state and use this to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed, adding that a summit would soon be convened to address the critical issues in the sector.

He was speaking during a chat with media executives, who paid a courtesy call to his office in Ikeja, capital of the state.