Engineering Assembly: Tinubu Urges COREN to Tighten Regulation, Deploy Sanctions

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to intensify its regulatory oversight and deploy stricter sanctions against professional misconduct. This directive underscores a national commitment to enhancing engineering standards, reducing infrastructure failures, and safeguarding public safety. The call comes amidst COREN's ongoing efforts to strengthen its Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM) framework and activate its Disciplinary Tribunal, signaling a potential era of more rigorous enforcement within the Nigerian engineering profession. Legal practitioners must advise their clients on heightened compliance requirements and the implications of increased regulatory scrutiny.

President Bola Tinubu recently issued a strong call to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), urging the body to tighten its regulatory framework and deploy more stringent sanctions against erring practitioners. This presidential directive, delivered at a recent engineering assembly, highlights a critical national concern regarding the quality and integrity of engineering practice across the country. The President's emphasis on effective enforcement and accountability is a clear signal that the era of lax oversight in the engineering sector may be drawing to a close, with significant implications for all stakeholders.

The impetus behind this directive is multifaceted, stemming from a desire to mitigate risks associated with substandard engineering, reduce life-cycle costs of infrastructure, and ultimately protect public safety. The President's stance aligns with growing public demand for greater accountability in the wake of numerous infrastructure failures, including building collapses, which have often been linked to professional negligence and the activities of unqualified individuals. This article will delve into the existing legal and regulatory landscape governing engineering in Nigeria, analyze the implications of President Tinubu's directive, and outline key considerations for legal professionals advising clients in this evolving environment.

The practice of engineering in Nigeria is primarily governed by the Engineers (Registration, etc.) Act, Cap E11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as amended by the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act No. 3 of 2018. This foundational legislation established COREN as the statutory body responsible for regulating and controlling the practice of engineering in all its aspects and ramifications within Nigeria. COREN's mandate includes determining standards of knowledge and skill for registration, maintaining a register of qualified practitioners, accrediting engineering programmes, and enforcing codes of conduct and professional ethics.

Central to COREN's regulatory function is the Engineers' Code of Conduct, which outlines essential ethical principles for engineers, emphasizing public safety, integrity, and competence. The Act also empowers COREN to investigate engineering failures, prosecute individuals or firms contravening its provisions, and impose disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion, through its Investigating Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal. The 2018 amendment further broadened COREN's powers, including the provision for Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) to ensure compliance with relevant codes and standards in the interest of national development and economic investment.

President Tinubu's directive for tighter regulation and sanctions signals a renewed emphasis on COREN's enforcement capabilities, particularly under the expanded powers granted by the 2018 amendment to the Engineers (Registration, etc.) Act. The call for "stronger engineering regulation, effective enforcement and deployment of sanctions" suggests a move beyond mere registration and accreditation to a more proactive and punitive approach against professional misconduct. This is evidenced by COREN's recent approval of a 90-day Engineering Regulation Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E) Rapid Response Task Force and the activation of its Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal, specifically aimed at intensifying the fight against unregistered practitioners and addressing cases of professional misconduct.

Historically, COREN has faced challenges in effectively disciplining erring engineers, with some critics suggesting that its sanctions have lacked severity and public visibility compared to other professional bodies like the Body of Benchers for legal practitioners. Issues such as professional empathy, potential cover-ups, and the multidisciplinary nature of engineering have been cited as contributing factors to perceived enforcement gaps. However, the President's intervention, coupled with COREN's recent initiatives, indicates a concerted effort to overcome these hurdles. The ongoing nationwide compliance inspections are a practical manifestation of this intensified regulatory drive, aiming to ensure that engineering is practiced in accordance with established codes and standards, thereby protecting public safety and national investments.

The emphasis on "quality engineering reducing risk and life-cycle costs" by industry leaders like Aliko Dangote further underscores the economic rationale behind stricter regulation. Substandard engineering practices not only endanger lives but also lead to significant financial losses through project failures, rework, and premature deterioration of infrastructure. The activation of the Disciplinary Tribunal and the referral of cases involving fraudulent academic certificates to anti-corruption authorities demonstrate COREN's commitment to upholding ethical standards and deterring quackery, which poses serious risks to public safety and national development. Legal professionals should note that the scope of professional misconduct extends beyond technical incompetence to include ethical breaches, as seen in past cases where engineers were suspended for operating companies with another firm's registration number or unauthorized sale of company property, contravening the Engineering Code of Conduct.

President Tinubu's directive to COREN marks a pivotal moment for engineering regulation in Nigeria, signaling a clear intent to foster a culture of accountability and excellence within the profession. For practising attorneys, this development necessitates a proactive approach in advising clients within the engineering and construction sectors. Firms and individual practitioners must ensure strict adherence to the Engineers (Registration, etc.) Act, its amendments, and the COREN Code of Conduct, as the likelihood of increased scrutiny and more severe sanctions is now significantly higher.

Legal professionals should anticipate a rise in regulatory investigations and disciplinary proceedings. It is crucial to review internal compliance frameworks, conduct due diligence on engineering personnel and firms, and prepare for potential enforcement actions. Staying abreast of COREN's evolving regulations, particularly those emanating from the ERM&E Rapid Response Task Force and the Disciplinary Tribunal, will be essential. This renewed focus on regulatory enforcement presents both challenges and opportunities for legal counsel to guide their clients through a more stringent compliance landscape, ultimately contributing to safer and more sustainable infrastructure development in Nigeria.