Lagos State Government has established a joint inspection team from all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address issues of multiple inspections of business outfits, factories and workplaces in the State.
The State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye who made this known while addressing a press briefing in Lagos recently, said that the ban on multiple inspections was in response to several complaints from business owners across the State.
According to the Commissioner “The directive which is from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is not only because of the various complaints received from the organized private sector on multiplicity of inspection and unauthorized sanctions imposed by some MDAs, but also because of the need to take necessary steps to harmonise inspection of
factories and other workplaces by regulatory bodies of the State.”
He said the new system will also improve and encourage sustenance of safety standard in workplaces in the State, adding that the harmonised inspection scheme would be carried out by trained inspectors mainly
drawn from various ministries, including Ministry of Health (Occupational Health & Safety) and Ministry of the Environment (Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency), among others.
Ogunleye noted that the State Government is committed to the growth of businesses and as such would endeavour to make business environment in the State more wholesome through provision and application of business friendly policies.
“As a proactive Government, we shall not rest on our oars knowing so well that the task of achieving a safer environment in our workplaces and attaining the goal of sustainable economic development require sound policies that will stand the test of time. We shall continue to provide the much needed roadmap for our journey to economic
sustainability which is the main focus of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”
He said the new plan will reduce cost, save time and strengthen self-compliance and monitoring in addition to encouraging efficiency, effectiveness and elimination of over-lapping functions of regulatory MDAs in the State.
Ogunleye listed the members of the five-man committee to include, Dr K. E. Layeni-Adeyemo, a Director from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, serving as the Chairman and Mr. F. O. Awosanya from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives as Secretary.
Other members are Mrs. R. Odeneye, from the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. T. Adebodun from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and Mr. A. F. Kuforiji, also from the Ministry of Health.
