By: Tijani Salako.
The Oyo State government has charged the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to tackle the quackery practice in the housing industry and to reduce infrastructure collapse by synergizing with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in the certification of building materials.
The Governor of the State, Seyi Makinde made the call while inaugurating the State Technical Committee (STC) and the State Expatriate Monitoring Committee (SEMC) of Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E), which will ensure that engineering practices in Oyo State adhere to global standards.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, advised engineers to ensure ongoing infrastructural projects meet the required standards.
He noted that the committees are saddled with the onus of monitoring and enforcing engineering regulations to ensure that engineering drives economic growth and improves the quality of infrastructure and life of the people in the state.
He urged the committees to maintain the ethics and practices of the engineering profession and ensure that all projects in the state are executed with the highest level of professionalism and integrity.
He commended COREN for its efforts in establishing the Engineering Regulations Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E), promoting excellence in engineering practices, and ensuring public safety.
COREN President, Prof Sadiq Abubakar, stated that engineering regulation is the bedrock for development, as COREN has expanded its regulatory activities to monitor all engineering practices and materials both imported and locally made
In his remarks, the Registrar of the council, Prof Okorie Uche, said the committees were set up to assist the government and the people in protecting their lives and properties, as well as ensuring engineering standard practice.
Speaking on the certification, licensing, and regulation of artisans in Nigeria under the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), a former deputy governor of Osun State, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, said that through the program, graduates from Nigerian institutions of learning could work anywhere in the world without doing conversion examinations for certification to practice their professions.
Members of the committees include representatives of the governor, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Oyo State Ministry of Works and Transportation, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, State Development Control Agency and Local Government Service Commission, Nigerian Society of Engineers, and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, among others.
