Ambode Sacks LSDPC Boss over Fraud Allegations, Scraps Rural Ministry, DMO, Others

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Lagos, Latest Headlines, News From The State Friday, June 19th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has sacked the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSPDC), Mr Taofeek Abiodun Oki over suspected case of fraud.

Ambode also approved the sack of three Principal Officers of the corporation.

In his replacement, the governor approved the appointment of Engr. Jacob Agosu as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the corporation.

He also approved the immediate reorganization of the LSDPC to stem the tide of negative capital returns in the corporation, according to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna.

“Consequently, Mr Taofeek Abiodun Oki, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and three Principal officers of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSPDC) have been relieved of their appointments” he said.

Prior to his new appointment, Engineer Jacob Agosu was the Deputy General Manager (Joint Ventures) in the Corporation and a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers.

Ambode Scraps Rural Ministry, Parastatals Monitoring Office

Meanwhile, the governor has scrapped the Ministry of Rural Development, Parastatals Monitoring Office, (PMO), Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Debt Management Office and Office of Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue.

The governor also directed the Head of Service, Mrs. Folasade Jaji to effect necessary realignment of office allocation and redistribution of human resources in line with the new structure.

Ambode, however, created Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and Office of Civic Engagement saddled with the responsibility of the now defunct Political and Legislative Powers Bureau and other responsibilities to be assigned.

The governor said the significance of the exercise is to improve on the processes and procedures for effective service delivery, reduce the cost of doing government business and crate opportunities for global competitiveness.

The new order was contained in an Executive Order No. EO/AA 01 of 2015, issued by the governor and directed to all ministries, department and agencies.

Under the new arrangement, the statuesque is maintained for other ministries with minor adjustment.

In the executive order, the Office of Transformation has been renamed Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation and now placed under the purview of the Office of Head of Service.

The governor said that the mandates of the Debt Management Office and Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue had been re-assigned to the Ministry of Finance.

Ambode ordered that the former Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations be relieved of the Inter-Governmental Relations mandate, saying that “conversely, the Arts and Culture schedules of the hitherto Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture be added to that of the Ministry of Tourism.

“It is now to be known and addressed as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The Inter-Governmental Relations mandate hitherto assigned to the Ministry of Tourism is now added to the schedules of the Ministry of Special Duties; it is now rechristened the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations.”

In the executive order, the hitherto distinct responsibilities of the Office of Drainage Services and Office of Environmental Services have been merged while the hitherto distinct responsibilities of the Office of Works and Office of Infrastructure have been merged.