Mr. Seun Adebayo, the President, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria chapter, spoke to Victor Gbonegun on the proposed facility management bill and why the professionals in managing public infrastructure.
Mr. Adebayo said like every other business interest, Covid-19 pandemic equally has its impact on the FM sector in Nigeria, although the severity of the impact is debatable because at the height of the pandemic when the nation experienced total lockdown, the integrated services, of facility managers were still required by fast moving consumer goods (FMCMG), pharmaceuticals, health sectors among others to ensure their continuous operations while sectors that operated skeletal offices also required our services but at a reduced pace.
He added that we are getting to the point where the entrenchment will become part of our life. He said although, it may be a slow pace, but surely we’re getting there, especially with the establishment of a department by the federal government through the federal ministry of works and housing for management and maintenance of all public buildings.
He further said the need for professionalism in the practice of facility management cannot be over emphasized and that the sequence of not being professional in delivery of services in the industry is dire and severe, hence everyone operating or practicing facility management must exhibit at all times the element of professionalism.
As regards to the bill on FM, he said the house of representatives of the eight assembly did pass it but the senate did not due to time and the exigency of the work load. However, all the relevant practitioners in the industry are collectively working towards the passage of the bill by the ninth assembly. He said the bill will not only address the standardization of the practice, but will also deal with issues of professional practice, regulation of industry players with its activities, and economic potentials of the industry among others.
