Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, gave the charge at the opening of a two-day retreat, entitled: “The role of Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee Under the Enabling Law: Isues and Matter Arising’, organised by the committee in Ikeja, Lagos.
Bamgbose-Martins observed that the state is confronted with disregard for planning laws and regulations, mostly in the form of blighted and disorderly developments, as well as outright building collapse that has continued to embarrass government.
He said the committee has role to play in changing the narratives for the better by halting the triumph of lawlessness and enthroning the regime of wholesale compliance through impartial arbitration of appeal cases.
He urged the committee to make recommendations in terms of appropriate fines and penalties to stop contraventions of physical planning regulations.
He said: “The committee needs to understand their role, which is more of an arbitrator to mediate between the public and the government. Enough of compromise with the public and officials, we need to build right and regulate appropriately.”
Bamgbose-Martins challenged them to handle cases professionally for the public to develop confidence in the process, physical planning and urban development ministry.
The Chairman of the Appeals Committee, Mr. Ayo Adediran, disclosed that the committee has handled 52 cases and resolved 28 out of the figure since inception in 2019.
He noted that the challenges confronting the committee, include bureaucracy in bringing officials and parties involved in a case before the committee, logistics such as inadequate funds and accommodation for meetings.
Adediran said: “We are looking at our processes and re-examining how to make them more effective and efficient. For instance, if we have the power to summon somebody, we won’t wait until we go and beg him through his or her peers and directors to attend to issues.”
In a presentation, former General Manager Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Mr. Funmi Oshifuye, recommended independent budget provision for the committee to effectively carry out its functions, periodic publication of all cases and proceedings in national newspapers and gazette, as well as yearly presentation of reports to the state governor through the Ministry of Justice.
For enduring relationship to exist between the public and regulating agencies of government, Oshifuye said there should be establishment of trust, fairness and equity.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, said with the challenges facing the built sector in Lagos, there was no better time than now for the tribunal to review its processes.
He added that the tribunal constitutes a bridge between government agencies and the people.
