Incessant building collapse: Civil society coalition calls on Minister to cancel COREN’s illegal election

A coalition of 5 civil society groups have called on the minister of works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to look into the illegal leadership of COREN as installed through ways that did not conform with laid down professional procedures.

In a press statement release by the group in Abuja, signed by its coordinator comrade Mohammed Adamu, it stated that with rising cases of building collapses, poor engineering works for road construction and project execution, it cannot condone a leadership of COREN elected without complying with the law, Adamu made this call in Abuja intimating the minister of works and housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and prevent non-qualified leadership of council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria*

He said, majority of Nigerians, have been gravely concerned about the rising spate of building collapses in many states of Nigeria with attendant loss of many lives which is generally blamed on poor engineering, quackery and non-compliance with building regulations.

Comrade Mohammed Adamu said, in view of this worrisome situation, we think the Nigerian Engineering profession could begin to get things rights and address the spate of engineering misconducts and malpractices by having a leadership elected in accordance with the law.

We are aware that a public interest law firm, Ojichukwu & Livingfaith Partners, through it’s Managing Partner, Mr. Michael O. Okorie, Esq has petitioned the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and cancel the illegal election of Engr. Professor. Saqiq Z. Abubakar and Engr. Olu Ogunduyile as President and Vice-President of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria as both are not duly appointed members of the Council as required by the relevant law, but they still smuggled into the Council by the immediate past President and his cohorts without Presidential or Ministerial approval as required by law.

The group said, in the interest of sustenance of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law in the engineering profession as well as public interest, lend support in calling on the Minister to urgently address the petition and intervene to ensure that the leadership of COREN is elected and constituted in accordance with the law. The request for the minister’s intervention will show a commitment to address the rising cases of engineering malpractices that contribute to building collapses and other project failures.

We commend the Minister’s disposition to the upholding of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law as the supervising Minister of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. And we believe the Minister will not standby and allow the enthronement of illegality in the leadership of the Council in particular regards to the currently elected President and Vice President who are not qualified to stand election as they are not duly appointed members of the Council.

We call on the Minister to immediately investigate these allegations and take necessary action, Adamu said.