By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Barely four days to its 32nd Annual Engineering Assembly (AEA), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) was at the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Thursday in Abuja where both agencies agreed to work together in tackling the various challenges confronting the engineering sector in the country.
In his remark, COREN President Prof. Sadiq Abubakar said the visit became imperative owing to the realisation that the existing Memorandum. of Understanding (MoU) between the two to needed to be reviewed to enable the Council expand its operational tentacles in monitoring engineering activities effectively in the country.
He said, “There is the need to review the MoU to to align with current realities and
escalate our responsibilities we set out to achieve our mandate.”
He noted that certain ugly developments such as the incessant collapse of buildings, the national grid among others experienced in recent times had become a source of concern, ” So we are desirous of expanding our activities to bring the menace under control”.
He said even at the state level, COREN in the quest to broaden its operational base, has some technical arrangements in place with some officers are working to ensure that the collective goal is achieved for the country.
According to him, COREN was expanding its responsibility to cover all critical sectors of the economic that have something to do with engineering including Oil & Gas, Power, Mining, Communication, Construction, Maritime, Aviation and Aerospace, Agro-Allied, Manufacturing and Transportation, hence the need to partner with other critical stakeholders such as the ICPC for effective policing to plug the existing gap.
“In all these sectors, we have our ERM, the Police, the Immigration Service among others, but we saw a gap and that is why we are here to discuss with you.
“We want to see how we can come together and harmonise on these fundamental issues bedeviling engineering practice.
“We are trying to look at a situation whereby we review the existing MoU to fill the gap,” he told his host.
Responding, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, pledged expressed his organisation’s the readiness and commitment to working with COREN in curbing prevailing challenges in the sector in the interest of national development.
“ICPC is committed to working with you; you have the expertise, we have enforcement power,” he said.
According to him, COREN and ICPC have many things in common that border on integrity, transparency among other values necessary for societal growth.
“One problem in the country is that, though there are experts, we try to cut corners for personal gain a lot when it comes to public projects.
“We cannot afford to allow such unwholesome practices to continue.
Your organisation has a role to play in curbing the crime. For instance, cyber crime is of serious concern now to the country. You can engage the youth in one way or the other including sensitisation and enlightenment,” Aliyu told his guest.
COREN also used the occasion to officially invite the ICPC boss to its 32nd Engineering Assembly holding in Abuja from Monday 2nd through Wednesday, 4th September, 2024 in Abuja