The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has taken a decisive step toward strengthening the engineering profession following the inauguration of a thirteen-member Committee tasked with amending the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2018.
COREN President Engr. (Prof.) S.Z. Abubakar made the announcement during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.
The Committee includes representatives from COREN Council, Engineering Associations, the Federal Ministry of Works, the National Assembly, and various State representatives.
Its mandate is to recommend legislative adjustments that will ensure sustainable funding for COREN’s recently launched Engineering Residency Programme (ERP), designed to better prepare engineering and technology graduates for professional practice.
Engr Abubakar underscored the urgency of revising the current Act, particularly to increase the Engineering Development Levy, which finances the ERP.
Currently set at a mere 0.005% of the total contract sums on federal engineering projects, the levy’s low rate threatens the ERP’s long-term viability amid inflation and growing economic demands.
“By inaugurating this Committee, we are not unmindful of other interests, and I expect you to undertake a holistic review of the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2018,” Abubakar stated.
He outlined the Committee’s Terms of Reference as follows:
a. Review the current Engineers (Registration, etc.) Act (as amended) 2018 to evaluate its scope, strengths, and limitations.
b. Solicit and collate submissions from individuals, institutions, and stakeholders across the engineering ecosystem.
c. Critically assess all submissions and benchmark against global best practices in engineering regulation.
d. Identify and recommend amendments to strengthen the Act, particularly to:
i. Enhance COREN’s mandate on inspection, monitoring, and enforcement
ii. . Strengthen disciplinary frameworks and sanctions for professional misconduct.
iii. Provide a clear legal basis for the operations of the ERM Department.
iv. Ensure sustainable ERP funding through the Engineering Development Levy and alternative sources.
v. Reflect emerging trends and technologies in engineering practice
vi. Promote institutional autonomy and operational efficiency.
He stressed the need to safeguard public interest by upholding professional standards across Nigeria’s engineering sector.
The COREN President further highlighted persistent challenges such as declining motivation among engineering students, employers’ dissatisfaction with graduates’ soft skills, and a widening gap between academic training and industry expectations.
He also noted that while technology rapidly evolves, many institutions struggle to keep pace with practical demands.
The COREN President advised the Committee to consult widely, noting that a National Assembly member had already submitted a memo on the proposed amendment.
He encouraged interface with the Ministerial Committee on Housing and Urban Development on issues such as building collapses, and confirmed that the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, FNSE, had requested to engage with the Committee to enhance the visibility of COREN’s enforcement activities.
Engr. Kamila Maliki, the committee chairman, pledged full commitment to the task, promising thorough review and extensive stakeholder engagement. “We accept this responsibility with a profound sense of duty and commitment, aware of its significance to the growth and advancement of the engineering profession in Nigeria,” he said.
COREN Registrar, Engr. (Prof.) O.A.U. Uche, thereafter, unveiled the members of the Committee as follows:
Engr. Wopa Kamila Maliki, FNSE, FAEng, mni – Chairman
Engr. Ejikeme U. Mgbemena, FNSE – Deputy Chairman
Senator Engr. Patrick C. Ndubueze FNSE, FNICE, – Member
Hon. Engr. Dr. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, FNSE – Member
Engr. Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, FNSE – Member
Engn. Tech. Rt. Hon. Dominic Udoatan, FNATE – Member
Hon. Umar U. Maikunkele, FNAEC – Member
Engr. Kam-selem Alhaji Bukar, FNSE – Member
Engr. Cyril O. Onyeneke, MNSE – Member
Engr. Folorunsho Bamisayemi – Member
Engr. Isyaka Lawan, FNSE – Member
Engr. Prof. O.A.U. Uche, FNSE, FNICE – Member
Barr. Dr. A. Amin – Member
Engn. Tech. Andrew Francis Onyilo – Secretary
Barr. Arowolo Aituaje – Assistant Secretary
