The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has stopped forthwith all forms of multiple agency inspection to workplaces and companies and ordered a harmonization.
Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Lagos, saying the state government has introduced harmonized inspection of factories and other workplaces in the state.
He said “This new system entails having a joint inspection team of all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) rather than the previous modus operandi of having four MDAs going on separate factory inspections.
“As you are aware, Lagos is a mega city with a burgeoning population of over 21 million people and it is Nigeria’s financial, commercial and industrial nerve center with considerable number of manufacturing industries, more than 200 financial institutions and well over 8,000 recognized business concerns and commercial outlets
Ogunlewe added that in line with global best practices business concerns in the state are expected to comply with all the existing laws and regulations of the state government and subject themselves to inspection, monitoring and supervision by the state’s regulatory agencies.
He said the new policy will help to determine their compliance in terms of protection of public health and the environment.
“It is against this background, with various complaints received from the Organized Private Sector (OPS) on over-regulation, multiplicity of Inspection and unilateral/unauthorized sanctions and levies imposed by some MDAs, that the state government has taken the necessary step to Harmonize Inspection of factories and other workplaces by regulatory bodies of the state.
Before now, over 10 agencies carry out all forms of inspection especially in companies that are doing well and new buildings.
