The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) partnered the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), to distribute LAG ID cards to over 2,000 sweepers.
The event which took place at LAWMA headquarters, Ijora Olopa, followed a successful data capturing exercise conducted earlier.
Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, expressed his enthusiasm for the exercise, highlighting its potential to significantly impact the lives of sweepers, on daily activities and financial transactions.
“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with LASRRA to equip our hardworking sweepers with these invaluable ID cards. These cards transcend mere plastic; they represent a gateway to multiple benefits that will empower them and elevate their social standing.”
Dr. Gbadegesin elaborated on the specific advantages the LASRRA cards offer, emphasizing their multifaceted nature.
“Firstly, these cards serve as a legitimate form of identification, a crucial aspect often missing in the lives of many sweepers. This empowers them to navigate everyday interactions with greater confidence and fosters a sense of belonging within the community.”
Speaking further, the LAWMA boss said that beyond identification, the LASRRA cards would unlock a spectrum of advantages that directly address the sweepers’ needs and aspirations, such as accessing healthcare services and applying for loans.
“The cards act as a key that opens doors to essential healthcare services, a fundamental right. This ensures their well-being and enables them to maintain optimal health, crucial for their demanding work. With these cards, they can also apply for business loans, fostering financial inclusion and opens doors to economic opportunities that were previously out of reach”, he concluded.
The General Manager of LASRRA, Mrs. Bilikis Abiola, noted that the initiative was a partnership with LAWMA, to help the Authority have a unique database of sanitation workers and to enable them access free healthcare services with the cards.
“LAWMA has quite a large number of street sweepers working assiduously every day and it is important for the Authority to know who they are. Therefore, we have come up with a system where we utilise their database, using biometrics, pictures and other details to ensure that we have unique people, who will be issued the LAG ID card. This will help LAWMA handle their sweepers and they will know the genuine workers”, she stated.
She said the card would also cover the health insurance scheme for the sweepers, with LAWMA ensuring that all her sweepers have access to cheap and free health care services.
Commenting on the exercise and reason for partnering LASRRA, the Team Lead Sterling Bank, Group Head Payment Products, Mr. Seyi Olanrewaju, said the initiative was to provide financial services to a large section of the public, under an initiative called identity banking, which aimed to give access to easier and faster financial services to residents of Lagos, as well as other financial facilities such as loans.
He said: “We have a concrete conjunction with the Lagos State Government particularly LASRRA for the provision of cards layered with a lot of opportunities. For every LASRRA card owner, you have access to BRT, loans and other financial benefits and our aim is to reach out to about three million residents of Lagos State, irrespective of their status/strata in other to enrich and expand the LASRRA card activation scheme’’.
“The card has the same functionality as the ATM card, the moment one is being given a card, a wallet account will be opened automatically, and after it has been loaded, one can have access and benefit from it. Each time one uses the card, it generates points which one can cash it out later. As long as you have the card”, he stressed.
High point of the event was the distribution and activation of the cards to the sanitation workers (sweepers).
For waste management related issues, call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020 and 617 or send an email to info@lawma.gov.ng.