The accountability group called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to conduct a swift investigation into the reinstatement and take appropriate action.
In a letter penned by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the subject line “Unjustified Reinstatement of Dismissed LASBCA Staff Over Building Collapse: Immediate Reevaluation Required,” the human rights organisation expressed its surprise regarding the reinstatement of the dismissed LASBCA officials.
They emphasised that this reinstatement occurred through a judicial process that they consider inconclusive.
It partly read, “The collapse of a 6-story building within Lekki Gardens Estate at Ikate Elegushi, Lekki, Lagos on March 8, 2016, causing the death of 35 persons and injury to 16 persons earned the concerned government officials severe punishment. In this case, the Lagos State Government rightly sacked the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Collapse Agency, Adeigbe Olushola, the Head of Inspection and Quality Control in the agency, Adeoye Thomas Adeyemi, the Zonal District Officer in the agency, Dosunmu Gbadebo, while the Zonal Head of Eti-Osa West of the agency, Akinde Adenike Sherifat, was retired mandatorily from the Civil Service.
“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in a statement signed by the State Head of Service, Olabowale Ademola, pointed out that the affected officials were dismissed, having been indicted of negligence, which according to Ambode, was an act of misconduct under the Public Service Rule 040401.
“The disciplinary action of the Lagos State Government was hailed by the public. Lives of innocent building occupants could not be terminated prematurely without repercussions, as the action taken by the Lagos State Government would serve as a deterrent to corrupt, negligent LASBCA officials.”
HEDA noted that it was shocking that the dismissed LASBCA officials had been reinstated into service and returned to their offices in the face of the indictment, even though the judicial process remains unresolved.
The group acknowledged the judiciary as a distinct arm of the government with decisions that cannot be overturned by the executive, however, insisted that the government must ensure public confidence was maintained by ensuring those indicted were made to pay for their offences and not allowed to sustain their negligence and compromise against public interest.
Citing a record of over 111 building collapses in Lagos State since the Lekki Gardens incident, resulting in 193 fatalities and 250 injuries, including children, HEDA emphasised the gravity of the issue. The organisation urged the Lagos State Government to act without sentiment and to preserve the rule of law while cleansing the system.
It added, “In the alternative, and assuming their reinstatement was by an order of the court, the Lagos State Government, in the interest of equity and justice, redeploy these officials to other Ministries, Departments, or Agencies unrelated to building control in the state.”
In an exclusive chat with The PUNCH, a top government official in Alausa, who pleaded anonymity, stated that if proper procedures were adhered to, there was no issue with reinstating previously dismissed employees.
He said, “There are rules and processes, why don’t they find out the procedure and what really happened, I have not heard of any law saying if someone is suspended or fired, the person cannot be rehired, I do not know whether there is a law that states that. Also, I am not familiar with this particular case and I do not know anything about it.”
