The Acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni has said he will not be distracted by aggrieved elements hiding under sponsored protests and videos to cast aspersions on his effort to improve and position the agency rightly.

Odumboni, who became acting MD less than a month ago, said the recent protests and video recording which went viral over the weekend was a lame attempt by some people to stop the ongoing audit process instituted by the executive governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo Olu.

“First, let me say this, the welfare of every staff of LAWMA is our top priority and that includes payments of salaries. Right now what we owe is just one month which is May Salary. And we are on it.”

“Our focus is to upgrade the status of LAWMA while ensuring a consistently cleaner Lagos and we will not be distracted or intimidated by a few persons who are afraid of an audit process set in motion by the governor to ensure that all routes in Lagos are sufficiently manned and all money accounted for,” Odumboni said.

Western Post reports that a group of female protesters dressed in LAWMA’s highway sweepers uniform stormed the state house, Marina, on Friday to protest the non-payment of salaries by LAWMA. They claimed they were been owed three months salaries by the present LAWMA’s Acting Managing Director.

Also, in a video that went viral over the weekend, a male LAWMA supervisor had accused the Acting MD of LAWMA of owing three months salaries. And on several occasions called out the MD over refusal to pay salaries.

However, what came as a surprise to many was not just the issue of delay in payment of salaries but how it could have been possible for a MD who is barely one month in office to be owing three months salaries and arrears.

Many Lagosians who responded to the video are of the opinion these moves are clear attempt to discredit the present LAWMA boss, Odumboni and also stop the audit process that already is revealing the high level corruption and wage padding that was in full operation before the assumption of office by the present Acting MD.

Interestingly, a Highway Supervisor, who spoke with Western Post on anonymity termed the recent happenings in LAWMA a ‘show of shame’ and a desperate attempt by some people to cover their tracks.

“It’s obvious! What else do you want me to say again? How can somebody who just became acting MD be owing three months salaries or arrears? Infact, let me say this, when Mr. Odumboni resumed office, he met backlog of unpaid salaries and arrears and has paid us except for the month of May and we are already concluding plans to begin payment.”

“What is happening is that some people are not happy that their dirty dealings are coming into lime light. They want to stop the audit process and distract this present acting MD from doing his job. It’s all lies, everything you are hearing, the videos, the protests, its all lies and it is obvious for everyone to see. We are in support of the audit process and I can assure you once the audit process is complete, the truth of the matter shall emerge.”

We recall that last month, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had relieved Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin of duties as Managing Director/CEO of the agency and appointed Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni in acting capacity.

While the reason for the ‘shocking’ removal of Dr. Gbadegesin was not made public, our sources say the move became necessary following reports of ruthless spending, wage padding and looting in the agency and to also allow unimpeded forensic audit of LAWMA’s books.

https://westernpostnigeria.com/lawma-sponsored-protests-aimed-at-stopping-ongoing-audit-process-odumboni/