The President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Engr Ali Rabiu recently lead delegation of the Council on an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed Council Chamber, Government House, Bauchi, MyEngineers reports.
During visit the president used the opportunity to inform the governor of the recent developments within the engineering community as well as the amended COREN Act. He mentioned that the Council has been mandated to among others, regulate the practices of engineering in all ramifications.
He also informed the governor of the COREN Bauchi Zonal office which the team came to inspect. “Your Excellency, we are in Bauchi to inspect our Zonal office and meet with engineers in order to ascertain their readiness and preparedness for the task ahead. Permit me to commend you for the great work you are doing in the area of infrastructure development in Bauchi state”,
Engr. Rabiu stressed that, one of the tools for ensuring societal development is the presence of infrastructure; and described engineering as a key driver in that regard.
He noted with satisfaction the ongoing urban renewal projects embarked upon by the Governor across the state and enjoined him not to relent in engaging engineers in order to achieve the desired objectives.
Governor Bala Mohammed thanked the council and commended Nigerian engineers for working assiduously with their counterparts in other parts of the world, to provide solutions to engineering challenges in the country.
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He declared his administration’s willingness to work with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to ensure adherence to engineering standards in the execution of developmental projects.
The Governor said since the inception of his administration, it has been reducing and cutting unnecessary spending in capital expenditures in compliance with the basic engineering practice.
He expressed concern over abuses of human capital required in the engineering practice and pledged to ensure full engagement of engineers by his administration to enhance its infrastructural delivery.
He said the establishment of the COREN zonal office in the state will go a long way in enhancing the government’s monitoring and evaluation capabilities in the state so as to ensure that projects and programmes have integrity and quality.
He said that COREN has become a household name in Nigeria. He also informed the Council that Bauchi under his administration have signed a new procurement law, with qualified engineer as head of procurement which is a clear departure of the past where non engineer administrator would be assigned.
“It is indeed a privilege for us to receive you today in Bauchi. I have realized that solutions to our growth and development of infrastructural deficit are engineering. With COREN, we must ensure adherence to due process in procurement, execution of projects, value for money and for quality delivery.
“You can see the amount of work we are doing, we have finished so many different innovative engineering projects in Bauchi not because we have enough resources, but because we are doing it differently using your members (local engineers) and best practice to make sure there is value for money,” Governor Bala said.
He however cautioned engineers against misguiding government in the execution of projects.
On COREN team are Council Members Engr. Dauda Okadugha and Engr Margaret Oguntala and the Head, Council Secretariat Engn. Tech. Andrew Onyilo and Bauchi Zonal Head, Charles Upele. The team also took time to visit some ongoing projects within the state.
