AUST/NAE urges reinstatement of COREN into national budget

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) Abuja as well as the Nigerian Academy of Engineering have tasked the Federal Government to reinstate the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) into the national budget.

The Acting President, African University of Science and Technology(AUST) and President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Professor Azikiwe Onwualu, stated this in Abuja yesterday when he led a delegation to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.

According to Prof. Onwualu, the Council is not a professional association but a regulatory agency rendering government functions to protect the general public through the registration and licensing of engineers, consulting firms, and engineering firms.

He called for collaboration with the Works Ministry in the area of capacity building, technical advisory services, policy formulation and implementation as well as execution of one of the flagship projects, National Engineering Innovation Award.

His words: “We believe that the function of regulation is different from that of professional bodies. We therefore urge the Minister to work towards convincing the government to restore funding to COREN which is a regulatory body for engineering practice, not a professional body”.

He urged the Minister to sustain the current tempo of road reconstruction and maintenance until all federal roads are motorable.

He also called on the Minister to continue in the area of local content in road construction including the use of COREN registered engineers for supervision of projects and development of local construction materials.

In his response, the Works Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Yakubu Kofarmata assured that new innovations in the Ministry would be geared towards achieving Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in infrastructural development.

This, he explained, would be felt especially in road construction and rehabilitation for ease of doing business in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“We need your input. We need to have this knowledge extension. All hands must be on deck to ensure that Mr President and the present administration succeeds. No compromise, no going back,” he said.

On the reinstatement of COREN into the national budget, Senator Umahi explained that the issue is being looked into.