As part of efforts to guard against building collapse which have become rampant in the country, the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) have urged its members to comprehensively embark on mechanisms and strategies to reverse the trend.
Speaking at the national launching of Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PEMU) held in Surulete, Lagos, the national chairman of the council, Bldr. Samson A. Opaluwah, said there is every need to address the incessant building collapse in the country, pointing out that such potends loss to both the economy, human lives and property.
“When buildings collapse: most often lives are lost; investment is lost; the economy is negatively affected; the national image is affected; the quality of education and professional expertise in building and construction management in our country is called to question and the capacity of government to manage construction and development projects efficiently comes under close scrutiny by local & international observers.
“As Builders and experts in Building and construction management, it behooves on us, as credible professionals in this country, to take urgent and decisive steps to save our nation from the recurrent loss of lives, investment and negative publicity due to the incessant incidence of building collapse”, he charged.
While stating that CORBON have not rested on its oars, he informed that the council have decided to address the development of the building
technology profession in the nation, in a systematic and strategic manner to meet the needs of the national economy.
He explained that such initiatives include: accreditation of building and building technology courses in 27
Universities and 56 Polytechnics; establishment of sector skills council on construction to meet the skills and technology requirements of the construction industry
in Nigeria as well as training & certification of Master Craftsmen and Artisans in the construction trades under the Federal Executive Council approved
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)to arrest the dearth
of skilled artisans.
“The establishment of the Labour Market Information System (LMIS)
platform to provide real time information on competent experts,
their expertise, skills, and location nationwide to ensure ease of
accessibility by developers.
“Collaborations with Private Sector Actors in the deployment of
technology platforms such as e-limi to train and certify competent
construction Artisans for the national economy by utilizing the new
media techniques to meet the current skills gap in our industry.
“Institutionalization of Registered Builders project management
practice tools to manage building sites efficiently, professionally
and in line with the international bestpractices.To professionalize
building construction and management, CORBON had rolled out
Building Construction Management tools known as the Registered
Builders’ construction documents which consist of the following:Construction Programme; Construction methodology and plant/equipment scheduling; Project health and safety plan and quality management plan”, he stressed.
The rest of the text of his address reads:
These tools of project delivery are mandatorily required for the
successful delivery of buildings by all Registered Builders practicing in
Nigeria. We call on all states to ensure that buildings are approved for
construction only when these mandatory documents are presented and
that construction on site is allowed to continue only when they are
utilized in the management of the project implementation.
Development Control, planning and approval departments of governments nationwide are advised to domesticate this initiative to avoid further avoidable
building collapses in our country.
Furthermore , as the world develops and our country seeks to take its proper place among the comity of nations, Builders have no alternative but to support our national governments and the private sector in providing bold initiatives that will rapidly develop our country.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is in this light that the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria {CORBON} wishes to role out another initiative to meet a national need here today.The need to professionally, efficiently and competently manage building
construction projects in our country.
This is the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit of CORBON with
the acronym of PEMU.
This Unit shall be:
a.Domiciled in all the 36 states of the federation under the auspices
and supervision of CORBON.
b.This is a unit made up of CORBON Registered Builders is to be
supported by relevant security agencies for the conduct of their
lawful duties.
c.Its function shall be to visit building project sites and monitor their
compliance with the established regulations on Building
Construction and Management in accordance with the National
Building Code, the laws governing the practice of the professions in
the built environment and the relevant planning development
laws of the State Governments.
d.It shall submit reports of findings to the relevant regulatory
enforcement agencies of the States and CORBON for further
necessary action.
e.This unit is an arm of CORBON and therefore must strictly operate
under the directives and operational guidelines of CORBON.
f.This Unit shall also monitor the training and apprenticeship exposure of learners in the various CORBON skills development programme.
g. PEMU is a Public Service Unit to ensure professionalism on the
nation’sbuilding sites and at such I wish to call for the cooperation
of all and sundry in ensuring that together, we lift our nation to the
next level in building projects management and delivery.
8.It is therefore, my honour and privilege, on behalf of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) to inaugurate the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit (PEMU) to the glory of God and the benefit of our country, Nigeria.
