In response to the widespread concern over the soaring cost of living in Nigeria, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled strategic measures aimed at easing economic pressure, particularly on civil servants in Lagos State.
During a media chat held on Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that civil servants in Lagos State, ranging from Level 1 to 14, will now adopt a hybrid work model. They will be required to physically attend their workplaces three times a week and work virtually for the remaining two days.
The governor also announced a significant 25% reduction in public transportation fares across the state.
“The first thing that we will be doing in the state going forward is that we want to start with our own public servants, to say that even the challenges that we’ve seen now, can we be creative and have flexible working hours?
“So, immediately from next week, we are working out a plan where civil servants from Level 1 to 14 will come to the office a maximum of three times a week. Not that any form of government will be shut down; it will be all calendarised and it will be scheduled.
“Levels 15 to 17 will miss work a day. What are we trying to achieve? We are seeking to achieve a process whereby people will even slow down and reduce the pressure on the work environment.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised the state government’s commitment to maintaining a harmonious work environment by avoiding a “charged, aggravated workforce.” The implementation of a hybrid work schedule, he explained, aims to curtail the frequency of physical attendance at workplaces, thus alleviating pressure on both the roads and the economic strain on workers.
The governor highlighted the expected benefits of this measure in reducing commuting-related challenges and lessening the overall economic burden on employees.
Against the backdrop of recent nationwide protests, including in Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Niger, and other parts of the country, citizens have voiced their grievances over the prevailing hardships. Issues such as food inflation, the high cost of living, and challenging living conditions have been attributed to factors like the removal of the petrol subsidy, the forex crisis, among others.
