The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has ordered government agencies occupying rented apartments to vacate such and relocate to their mother ministries.
It was gathered that no fewer than 20 agencies were currently paying rents across the state.
A government source said the rents were deemed too exorbitant, while some of the rented apartments allegedly belonged to friends and cronies of some people in the government.
“The cost of running the apartments was inflated, which made this development inevitable,” the source said.
Our correspondent gathered that among the affected agencies are the Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies, the Lagos Water Regulatory Commission, the Law Reform Commission, the Lagos State Safety Commission, Magodo, and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, the Audit Service Commission, the Lagos State Valuation Office, the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Board and the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Office.
The order to vacate the rented apartments was contained in a circular No. 072, dated July 24, 2015, and signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Folasade Jaji.
The circular, which was sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday, was directed to all heads of ministries and government agencies.
The circular, which was titled, ‘Re-alignment of office accommodation of ministries, departments and agencies,’ read in part, “Sequel to the HOS circular Ref. NO: CIR/HOS/15/Vol.1/065, on creation, abolition and re-alignment of ministries, departments and agencies of government in Lagos State, it is hereby notified for general information that His Excellency, the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed that all affected MDAs are to commence relocation to their new offices with immediate effect from July July 27 to August 3, 2015.”
It was learnt that the agencies had been allocated offices in their parent ministries.
