Beginning from the first weekend in March, some Lagos State Government workers will go to work on Saturdays, says Governor Babatunde Fashola.
This move, according to Fashola, is aimed at rendering services to Lagosians who could not have access to government services during weekdays due to the nature of their jobs.
The Saturday work would begin with three pilot ministries before others would be added, Fashola said.
The pilot ministries to begin work this Saturday are Transportation, Physical Planning and Urban Development and Lands Bureau.
“Some of the pilot ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, have conducted extensive surveys across the state and we have noticed that some citizens are either unable to access government services during the week at all; or they find it difficult to do so because of the nature of their work or where they live.
“Our surveys show that there is a favourable disposition of such people to access such services if it is available on Saturdays.
“Consequently, in response to this demand, we have resolved to commence a Saturday service in some pilot ministries, departments and agencies with effect from the first Saturday in March 2013 excluding the last Saturday of every month which is reserved for sanitation day,” Fashola announced.
The governor said the resumption time for the Saturday work would be 10.00 am while the closing time would be 2.00 pm
“The Ministries and Departments involved are Ministry of Transportation to deal with issues of drivers training, drivers’ license, and traffic enforcement; Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, to deal with complaints and queries about building permits and related matters; and of course the Lands Bureau to deal with issues relating to lands.
“The Head of Service has been mandated to publish the full details of how this will work and the limited scope of services that the pilot scheme will address at the start,” he added.
Fashola also disclosed that from this Saturday, magistrate’s courts would begin sitting to attend to pending cases, saying that the Chief Judge would inform members of the public through the appropriate communication channel of the judiciary about the details of this service initiative.
“What is instructive is that it will certainly improve access to justice and prevent people who are charged with minor offences from being held over the weekend only because there is no court before which they can be brought until the following Monday.
“This is another first in the country and it simply shows that the depth of our commitment to improve service in the State is fathomless,” he stated.
