Dogara raises alarm over quacks in engineering
Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara said quacks have infiltrated engineering in Nigeria with “all kinds of persons” now parading themselves as engineers.
Speaking when he declared open a public hearing on a bill to amend the engineers (registration etc) Act, 2004 by the committee on works yesterday in Abuja, Dogara said the effects of such quacks were usually monumental.
Dogara, who was represented by his deputy, Yussuf Suleiman Lasun, said amending the existing law guarding the practice of engineering became imperative.
“Unfortunately, engineering has been infiltrated by quacks and the term ‘engineer’ has been ascribed to all kinds of persons with a tool or wearing a helmet. The resultant effect is that our lives are put at risk by collapsed buildings and potholed roads, as well as failing equipment and machines among others.
“Today, engineering failures have not only brought financial and economic costs to our country, they have also imposed heavy social costs on us. Worse still, there appears to be no internal mechanism to deal with these ugly developments,” the speaker said.
He said the bill is critical because it underscores the importance the House places on professionalism, saying the amendment would promote and ensure highest standards in engineering practice in the country.
Chairman of the committee, Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) who is the sponsor of the bill, said the objectives of the draft legislation is to empower the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to arrest and prosecute engineering quacks.
In a presentation, the President of COREN, Kashim Ali, said the council wholeheartedly support the action, so that activities of engineers can be better repositioned.