The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, on Wednesday promised to make voluntary compliance with physical planning laws attractive but more punitive to offenders.
Bamgbose-Martins said this at a workshop organised by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), one of the agencies under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in Oregun, Lagos.
The workshop was for Management and Middle Level Management/Technical Officers and had the theme: “Repositioning LASBCA for Better Service Delivery.”
The commissioner said even though the agency would make voluntary compliance with physical planning laws and regulations attractive, it would strengthen the laws to become more punitive to offenders.
He urged staff of the agency to strive to improve the quality of work and shun corrupt tendencies to restore the confidence of Lagos residents in the system.
“The truth is that we have to work hard together. We have to do it together,” he said.
He said there was need for the agency to collaborate with the private sector to ensure shared risks and responsibilities to achieve better service delivery.
“We have to be systematic, we will not rush, we will do it stage by stage,” he said.
Bamgbose-Martins said the government would audit approvals and punish wrong constructions to serve as deterrent to those who connived to erect structures different from the ones approved.
The commissioner also spoke on deployment of technology and public sensitisation “to let people know that we don’t collect bribe; we will not collect bribe but render good service.”
“We will get there and together we will succeed,” he told the civil servants.
The commissioner recalled the outcomes of town hall meetings done in the past 40 days and his work with consultants towards compilation of issues militating against effective regulation of the built environment in the state.
He said an interim report from the consultations on issues of granting of approvals, inspections, certifications, verifications and other actions were submitted by him last week.
The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr Gbolahan Oki, said looking inward and building capacity of staff was important to ensure top notch service delivery.
“With this workshop, we aim to arm our officers with the robust knowledge of State Civil Service policy and refresh their memories on the workings of LASBCA.
“Listen to our target audience on their perspectives of the agency and how we can better serve them whilst learning how to manage our health so we do not burn out in the process of carrying out our day-to-day activities,” he said.
Oki thanked the state governor, the commissioner and other senior staff for their contributions to the progress of the agency.
