Lagos — LAGOS State Government yesterday said from first week of March, it would commence Saturday's services in some key ministries, departments and agencies, aimed at enhancing efficient and effective service delivery to members of the public.

This is against the current practice where most key services are opened to the public from Monday to Friday, while Saturday and Sunday are observed as rest days.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who announced this at an event to mark his 2,100 days in office in Ikeja, said the pilot service of the exercise would begin Saturday, March 2 ,2013.

Ministries affected

According to Fashola, these services would include Ministries of Transportation, Urban and Physical Planning and Land Bureau to further make services available to every citizen, saying "Consequently, in response to this demand, we have resolved to commence Saturday service in some pilot Ministries, Departments and Agencies with effect from the first Saturday in March in 2013 excluding the last Saturday of every month reserved for sanitation day to serve the public better in some critical areas of need."

"Similar case will also be applicable in the state judiciary where judges and magistrates will from the second Saturday of March 2013, sit on weekends to adjudicate on cases before them, in what is expected to facilitate quick dispensation of justice and ensure that accused persons stand trial on weekends as against the current situation where they can only be brought to the courts on week days."

Government not only for the elite

While debunking claims that his government was meant for only the elite, he said he had nothing against the poor "rather we are bent on improving their lots. No responsible government would allow things to go wrong without taking appropriate action where necessary."

He explained that the traffic law which had generated much reactions from the public was an attempt to save lives, stressing that "there has been a significant reduction in the number of deaths relating to Okada riders as a result of the impact of the traffic law.

"No death has been recorded this year compared to what had been prevalent in the past.

"Our traffic law has also recorded increased acceptability and compliance, and it has most importantly delivered on its objective which is the safety of lives. 'Between November and December 2012, we recorded a 24.2 percent reduction in fines. This reinforces our position that this is about safety of human lives and not about monies."

On FG's good governance tour

Meanwhile, Fashola has dismissed the ongoing Federal Government's "good governance tour" programme describing it ill conceived.

The minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has been going round the states to assess projects embarked upon by governors.

Fashola, speaking on the development said the Federal Government on its own cannot point to a 100 kilometre road that connects any two states in the country.

"The tour is a mere attempt by government at the centre to appear busy. In an attempt to appear busy, they have embarked on an ill-conceived Good Governance tour, because they have no project to inspect. The question to ask is whether Nigerians need a tour to know good governance or they are well governed.

"We do not need Good Governance Tour in Lagos before citizens know that their lives are improving. Completed projects such as the Ibeshe Road in Ikorodu, the mother and child care centre in Amuwo Odofin and Alimosho, the completed school of nursing are examples of good governance."

The progressing road projects from Mile 12 to Ikorodu, Yaya Abatan/ College Road, Okota Ago Palace Way, Ejigbo Ajao Link Bridge and road network are examples of good governance," he said.