FG Should Formulate National Policy on Skills Acquisition, Says NIOB

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has said there was the need for the Federal Government to expedite action on the formulation of an integrated National Policy on Skills development and acquisition. They said the government should build on the 6-3-3-4 educational policy by further introducing technology Programmes that are relevant to the industry at undergraduate and post graduate levels and that the government should support teaching and training institutions by providing incentives for their trainees. These were some of the resolutions reached at the just concluded 45th Conference/ Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Builders with the theme ‘Skills Development and Entrepreneurship in the Construction Industry.’

The theme of the conference, the institute said was conceived to reflect its desire to promote skills development and entrepreneurship among artisans, professionals and all practitioners within the industry in order to enhance their competence levels.

The conference tagged Oluyole 2015 was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

The Conference was declared opened by the former Head of service of the Federation, Professor Oladipo Afolabi.

Keynote addresses were presented by the State Governors of Oyo and Osun states. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development represented by Bldr. (Hajiya) Salma Mohammed also attended.

The NIOB also resolved that the government should renovate, expand and re-equip existing vocational and technical schools and replicate them where they do not exist; that the Basic Apprentices Training Centres (BATC’s) and training schools in the industry nationwide should be standardised and integrated into the national skills policy.

Also, that the teaching curricula in higher institutions should be reviewed to accommodate teaching and training on the relevant skills for Builders, with improved provisions for laboratories and workshops; the Teachers Industrial Work Experience Schemes/Staff Industrial Training Schemes should be re-introduced promoted and strengthened; the Procurement Act should be amended to make it mandatory for companies to take up a certain number of Builders on pupilage to qualify for contract awards by Federal, State or Local Governments as well as parastatals; the role given to the Nigerian Institute of Building as an awarding body under the NVQF framework by the NBTE is commendable and should be consolidated.