Submission of by NIMechE at the public hearing of the National Transportation Commission Bill.
By My Engineers – November 14, 2019
Below is the Submission of NIMechE Institution of Mechanical Engineers at the hearing of National Transportation Commission Bill in Abuja.
Re: INVITATION TO A ONE DAY PUBLIC HEARING
Sequel to your letter dated 23th November, 2016 with Ref No. NASS/PH/JCLMA/2016/01onA Bill to Repeal the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (Establishment,) Act 2002(As Amended) and to Establish the Federal Roads Authority.
We of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers having read through the attached bill closely with a mind set of putting on ground a system that will serve the people of this Country not just well but stand the test of time.
We have here-with attached our submission and stand.
Sincerely Yours and best regards,
Engr N.P. Ugochukwu Nzurumike, FNSE, FAutoEI, FNIMechE,
National Chairman
The Submission of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Establishment,etc) Act, 2002 (as amended) and to Establish the Federal Roads Authority to Promote a safe and Efficient Management of the federal roads net and for other matters connected therewith.
Considering the very undesirables state of the national roads network in this country and lack luster performance of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) over the years. Bearing in mind our none enviable poor maintenance culture, one for sure is not in the least surprised that this bills has come to being.
We in gratitude to the originators and in full support to its successful passage into law, herein forward our own opinions.
The Federal Roads Authority Bill, 2015.
Having painstakingly gone through this bill with my officials, we have noted a few corrections that if put right will make this bill very functional. They are as follows;
Section 4. Appointments and Qualification of a Board Member
Subsection 2
(a) Reads “Civil Engineering or other relevant engineering discipline” should read instead “a COREN duly registered Engineer in relevant Engineering discipline and hold a current practicing license”
(b) Reads “Construction Management”, this should be deleted outright, as there is no known profession as that. It will go contrary to the opening paragraph of this subsection which talked about persons with “expert knowledge and qualification”.
Section 9. Appointment and Removal of the Managing Director.
Subsection 2
(d) should read the same as section 4-2(a) corrected but with not less than 20 years cognate professional experience.
Section 10. Secretary and Other Staff of the Authority
Subsection (2)
Reads, “The secretary shall posses adequate professional qualification, skills and experience as a legal practioner with not less than10 year’s cognate experience”. This should read instead “The secretary shall posses adequate professional qualification, skills and experience with not less than 15 years cognate experience”. Note, there are Nigerians who hold recognized professional certificates in Administration (Public and Business) and Secretarial Studies. These people should not be sidelined.
We here Recommend that the Authority should have a legal department to be headed by a legal practioner of over 15 years experience.
Section 12. Functions of the Authority
Subsection (q) A foreign undefined entity appeared here “National Roads Fund Board”
Who is this?
What is its relationship with the Federal Roads Authority?
Is it any existing entity?
I believe it should be properly defined, its constituents and all made clear.
Thanks and Best Regards
Engr N.P. Ugochukwu Nzurumike, FNSE, FAutoEI, FNIMechE.
National Chairman,