Apparently disturbed by the colossal losses recorded in Ikoyi building collapse in Lagos state, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has declared that any contractor or government official indicted for compromising safety standards in the building industry will henceforth be prosecuted.
The governor stated this during the Treasury Board Meeting on the year 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2022 Budget held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Particularly inferring that workers in the works and building agencies are susceptible to taking bribes, Abiodun promised that his administration is considering sponsoring a Bill at the state House of Assembly (OGHA) that will make it a criminal offence for contractors and government officials indicted for any misdeed in those agencies.
“I am coming up with a law that will send workers in the building industry to prison. I am going to ensure that there is something in our law that will send the head of the building control agency to prison if a building collapses in Ogun State under their watch.
“The preoccupation of those responsible for building control should not just be revenue but to ensure due process and best practices in consonance with the state building control regulations.
“If somebody was given approval to construct a storey building and you find out that the person has started decking for the second floor, you give him a stop order and penalty for exceeding the original approval. That is not enough; the penalty should be punitive. Yes, I want to see the money but, I am more concerned about the welfare, well-being and wellness of our people,” the governor said. (Leadership)