The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), for the purpose of promoting integrity and professional ethical standards in the engineering profession regulatory system.
The MoU, which was signed on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters by the Chairman of ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, and COREN’s President/Chairman, Engr. Professor Sadiq Zubair Abubakar aimed at building synergy and leveraging the strengths of the two agencies to fight against corruption for mutual and public purposes.
According to the ICPC boss, both agencies were critical and needed to work together for the betterment of the country; thus, expressing optimism that the MoU would strengthen the mutual relationship and collaboration between the two agencies.
Dr. Aliyu stated, “ICPC and COREN are critical in Nigeria. COREN is critical to our survival. The engineers help us to have this place we are using for this meeting. And our job as ICPC is to ensure that we have good quality in that area (engineering). We (ICPC) have a responsibility to ensure accountability and transparency in the public interest.
Speaking on areas for collaboration, Dr Aliyu noted that COREN’s expertise was needed in the Commission’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) to follow some key projects of the government.
According to him, “this is because we need people who are experts to tell us that those projects are done according to standard and design.’
ICPC Chairman decried the situation where certificates are issued for projects shabbily or not even executed, adding that if there were professional engineers engaged in those kinds of sharp practices, the Commission would refer them to COREN for misconduct.
Dr Aliyu also pointed out the issue of building collapse, stressing that there was a need to nip the issue in the bud by putting preventive mechanisms to save the profession and the public.
He further stated, “As a Commission, we are ready. ICPC cannot be everywhere; that is why we need you to draw our attention to areas you find wanting in the field. Do not allow people to lose confidence in you.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of COREN, Engr. Professor Sadiq Zubair Abubakar said the Council was ready to work with the Commission to ensure that sanctions for defaulters of engineering regulations in the country were carried out, hence the need for the review and signing of the MoU to strengthen the existing relationship.
