Lagos LGA Reduces Staff Workdays to Ease Subsidy Burden

Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor

The Agege Local Government Area (LGA) Council of Lagos has announced the reduction of its working days from the normal five days a week to three days in order to help alleviate the economic hardship that is being faced by workers within the state. 

The Council also ensured that it lowered the levies being paid by traders and residents of the area.

The Chairman of the Council, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, made the declarations in a statement in Agege on Tuesday. He said that the reductions became imperative in view of the effects of subsidy withdrawal by the Federal Government on residents of the area.

In his own words, “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 also added that various forms of levies paid to the council by residents and business operators have now been lowered.

The Council Chairman, however, stated that 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 daily transportation. 

According to him, it is meant to reduce the sum of money staff spend on moving from thier homes to work and vice versa in the face of rising fares.