Lagos to Enact Law Regulating Domestic Workers, Guards
Unveils safety corps, pledges rewards for volunteers
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said his administration had prepared an executive bill, which when enacted, would regulate domestic workers and guards, citing growing security threats they pose to the state and its residents.
The governor said if eventually enacted, the bill would bring to an end the incidents of child abuse or underage workers, who he said are largely undocumented and pose a grave threat to the security of lives, private property and public installations in the state.
He disclosed this at the unveiling of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps at Agege Stadium, noting that the corps was not designed to rival the Nigeria Police, but to complement its efforts, especially in the area of intelligence gathering.
He inaugurated the corps alongside the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, her immediate predecessor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, among others.
Beyond unveiling the corps, Ambode explained the importance of strengthening security in the state, which he said, necessitated the initiation of an executive bill “to regulate the employment of domestic workers and security guards henceforth.”
He explained that the bill “will prescribe regulations for these set of workers and other details to monitor their activities. There is no room for child abuse or under-aged workers.
“It has been discovered that domestic workers are largely undocumented and pose a grave security threat in the state. The recruiting agencies must be licensed and regulated henceforth. Our safety is now non-negotiable,” the governor said.
On the safety corps, Ambode said it became imperative to establish it “to enhance security all over our dear state. The corps is designed to provide a second layer of policing in order to ensure our state and communities are more secure.”
The government noted that the corps is a vital part of our continuing security and justice sector reforms, which he said, was structured “to fighting crime in the state.”
He acknowledged the supportive role of the Nigeria Police, though explained the necessity of the corps due to what he ascribed “to huge population and unique challenges, the Nigeria Police needs our support to complement their efforts especially in areas of community policing.”
He said the corps initiative “has created at least 7,000 jobs for officers of the corps, artisans and other support staff. Job creation is at the heart of economic prosperity and we remain fully committed to a more prosperous Lagos for our citizens.
“Special hotlines have also been created direct to the Executive Secretary and senior management of the agency for easy communication with our communities in the event of any crime. “Any valuable information given to the corps will attract handsome rewards from the state government. I therefore call on all Lagos residents to join hands with us to say a final NO to crime in our state.”