Lagos Assembly passes bill to regulate artisans and craftsmen, sets up certification board

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday (9 November) adopted the report on a bill to establish a state regulatory board for artisans and craftsmen, sending it to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent. The bill aims to bring Lagos's large informal artisan sector under a system of registration, training and certification, protecting consumers from unqualified operators and substandard work.

Assembly adopts committee report; bill goes to the governor

At Monday's plenary, the House adopted the report of its Committee on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives on the Lagos State Artisans and Craftsmen Regulatory Board Bill 2025. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided, directed the Clerk of the House, Adenike Oshinowo, to transmit a clean copy of the bill to the governor for assent. Once signed, the bill becomes law and the board comes into being.

Registration, training and certification together

The proposed board would oversee the registration, training and certification of artisans and craftsmen, and set professional standards. Presenting the report, the committee chairman, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, said artisans are a vital component of the state's economy and contribute significantly to employment; regulation would help consumers identify qualified practitioners and help qualified artisans access government support and training.

Wide coverage, but details still to be settled

The bill went through a public hearing on 16 September, where stakeholders gave their views. The Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans said practitioners have long faced problems with certification and renewal; some industry representatives asked for the categories covered to be defined more broadly, including mechanics, welders and hairdressers. The committee recommended that the board's general manager be appointed by the governor on the commissioner's recommendation, subject to confirmation by the House. However, the report did not specify sanctions for unregistered practice or say whether registration would become a precondition for working, so the practical impact will depend on how the board sets standards and enforces them.

Source: Daily Champion; Ghanamma; National Daily, 10 November 2026.