Lekki building collapse: Ambode sacks GM of LABSCA, dismisses 3 others for negligence

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday sacked Adeigbe Olushola, general manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), saying preliminary reports on the five-storey building that collapsed in Lekki area of the state last week indicted the headship of the agency for negligence.

The property, one of those being developed by Lekki Gardens, a reputable estate developer, came down last Tuesday, killing about 35 persons and injuring several others, mostly site workers.

Ambode, in a statement signed by Olabowale Ademola, the state Head of Service (HoS), also approved the dismissal of Adeoye Adeyemi, head, inspection and quality control of LASBCA, and Dosunmu Gbadebo, the zonal district officer in the agency, while the zonal head of Eti-Osa West of the agency, Akinde Sherifat was compulsorily retired from the civil service.

According to the state government, the affected officers are dismissed having been indicted of negligence, which constitutes an act of misconduct under the public service rule 040401.

The rule 040401 of the Public Service Act of misconduct states inter alia: “a wilful act of omission or general misconduct to the scandal of the pubic or to the prejudice of discipline and proper administration of the state government” should be visited with dismissal from the public service in line with the public service rule 040503.

The statement quoted the HoS saying that the disciplinary measure against the officers was “the outcome of the recommendations of the personnel management board to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was personally grieved by the high number of fatalities that occurred as a result of the building collapse.”

It further warned public officials, private building owners or contractors who violate or subvert building regulations that it would no longer be business as usual, and that the dismissal of the officers would serve as a wake-up call to public servants.

“It is also a clarion call to them to be alive to their responsibilities, as any act of negligence will face sanctions, while hardworking officers will be rewarded appropriately,” the HoS said.