FG inaugurates builders disciplinary tribunal, warns against compromise

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Builders Disciplinary Tribunal, warning it against compromise and favour in discharging its functions.

Inaugurating the tribunal in Abuja, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, urged the members to collaborate with professional bodies, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders across the industry to ensure the building environment meets global standards.

Dangiwa also expressed the delight that the tribunal marks an important step towards strengthening accountability within the building profession in Nigeria.

The minister added that it would be establishing structures, systems, and procedures that enforce adherence to professional standards and ethics.

He equally stated that the body will ensure that those who fail to comply with these standards are held accountable and punished.

The minister stressed that adherence to regulations and standards was non-negotiable.

The Housing Minister therefore emphasised that “in any profession, the temptation to cut corners exists, and builders hold the responsibility to construct safe, reliable structures that protect lives. Any compromise here is a compromise on safety, and the consequences, as we have seen, can be catastrophic.”

“We are all painfully aware of the recent wave of building collapses across the country. Only last week, a tragic incident in Lugbe claimed five lives, leaving families devastated and exposing gaps in enforcement and professional diligence. This is not an isolated case but part of a recurring pattern that demands our attention and decisive action.”

Similarly, he argued that the Builder’s Disciplinary Tribunal inaugurated today is designed to address precisely these issues and is made possible by Sections 16 (1) and (2) of the Builders Registration Act, Cap B13, LFN 2004, which guides the establishment of this tribunal.

Dangiwa called on members of the tribunal to uphold the trust and credibility of the building profession by ensuring that disciplinary cases are managed with integrity, fairness, and transparency as their decisions will have far-reaching effects on professionalism.

The tribunal members are Chairman Sampson Opulawah, Taliat O. Yusuf, Kingsley Ughoro, Chinasa Nwekete, Dr. Samaila Adamu, Prof. Yohanna Izam and Alhassan Market.