The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, has charged officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency to shun corruption.
Olumide gave the charge at a meeting with the management staff of the agency in Ikeja, Lagos, recently.
He said, “Professionals in the agency, who are regulators, must shun corruption and be firm and decisive in their actions. There must be consequences for any individual, including LASBCA staff members found compromising on standards or engaging in practices that could jeopardise the safety of structures.
“I have absolute confidence in the leadership of the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, and his approachable leadership style, and I encourage you all to work diligently under his guidance.
“Do not compromise or succumb to cheap blackmails from developers and property owners as doing so affects the agency, ministry as well as state government. I am ready to listen to your needs and demands that will make you excel in your daily activities that will bring to the barest the issue of building collapses in the state.”
The commissioner called for concerted efforts from all members of staff to ensure that the mandates of the agency are achieved.
He appealed to the officials to acquaint themselves with modern trends in the built industry and rededicate themselves to duties.
He noted, “LASBCA staff with the responsibility of continuous professional development must stay abreast of the latest advancements in their field. There is an essential need for the agency’s personnel to be well-prepared and equipped to handle the challenges associated with their roles, reinforcing the importance of their contribution to the state’s progress.”
He assured the agency’s staffers of a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and LASBCA in training and retraining of its workforce.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olumide Sotire, reiterated the importance of training and charged LASBCA staff to make themselves available to different professional trainings offered by both the state government and international bodies.
He pledged to give necessary support to professionals to develop and equip themselves to meet the challenges of modern prevention of building collapses.
He said, “Through continuous professional development, strict accountability, and effective leadership collaboration, the Lagos State Government through the ministry is poised to create a safer and more secure built environment for its citizens.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, noted that in the last one to two years, LASBCA had been standing straight and meeting the mandate set for it by the state government. (Punch)
