Chineme Okafor in Abuja
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has disclosed that it is currently working with the National Assembly to promulgate a law which will abolish its existing regulatory and compliance arm, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and then set up a fresh chartered body to replace it.
NSE said the body to emerge from COREN’s imminent abolition will be known as the Nigerian Society of Engineering Personnel (Chartered), and that it will, among other responsibilities, take up the regulation; control; enforcement; and determination of the standard of knowledge to be attained by people seeking to become registered and chartered engineering personnel and other connected purposes in the country.
The society stated at the weekend in Abuja when it conferred fellowship titles on 20 of its members that COREN as presently constituted has not lived up to the purpose for which it was set up in 1970.
It said it was for reasons which include operational and industry anomalies; consistent drop in regulations and standards; neglect of accreditation responsibilities; all of which results to societal disregard for the engineering profession and professionals that it wants the COREN to give way for the chartered body.
The President of NSE, Otis Anyaeji stated at the occasion that it was an opportunity for the profession to reinvent itself to be able take its position in the development matrix of Nigeria.
Similarly, the chairman board of fellows of NSE, Chris Okoye in his remarks said members of the association were favourably disposed to the option, and that it has already started work with the National Assembly to fulfil the legal requirements for the repositioning.
A presentation made by a member of the NSE, Prof. Simon Irtwange on the repositioning plan indicated that the proposed bill will provide a framework for the proper operations of other members of the engineering family that have been neglected under the present arrangement.
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