By Thursday night (5/12/2019), the NSE would have decided on the two main options of Transforming into either (A) a truly professional engineering Institution umbrella or (B) a Tribal, Regional, Social cultural garrulous Association. Either choice has its merits, dis-merits and consequences. I will attempt to expatiate on this.
When the GAVEL FALLS, if the choice is A, then the NSE would transform into an umbrella body of Engineering institutions. All other garullous and mundane activities will take back stage and we can then begin to meet President Buhari, Government Agencies and MDAs 28 days of every month to confer on different areas of engineering infrastructures. This is because each of the Engineering Institutions will be meeting him on their specific areas of endeavors and engagement (industry). The Institutions represents different industry or endeavors.
For instance, on Power issues, NIPE will meet the President PMB, Minister and MDAs, etc while on Telecommunications and ICT, NIICTE will on daily bases engage PMB & Minister, Alhaji Patami, etc. For water resources, NIWE will be all out to engage our colleague, Engr. Hussain Adamu,
For Agriculture issues, the NIAE will daily engage PMB, the Minister and MDAs in that sector. Ditto for Space exploration and research, the NISE will adequately confront and be a standalone to guide the affairs there.
Ajaokuta Steel & its subsidiaries will have their Specialist professional Engineers standing at the door step of PMB 24/7 to demand the practice of their handicraft. There will be no more waiting for one humongous body represented by *one* individual speaking for every aspects of engineering practice and on everything under the sun.
Conversely, if when the GAVEL falls by Thursday night, the choice is B, then the NSE would become a Social-cultural ASSOCIATION for all types of Engineering groups in Nigeria. It membership will then accommodate groups like “Engineers in Cooperative Union”, “Sporting Engineers club”. ” Engineers of Urhobo Extraction ” etc.
Their ultimate aim will be to meet and celebrate the existence of one engineering body not to discuss engineering professionalism or how to support the GROWTH of Engineering activities.
When the GAVEL FALLS, the NSE on option B will have increased its Council representatives through this new entrants. For the Engineering Professional Institutions however, some of which were independent before coming in AFFILIATESHIP with the NSE, this new home will be too garrulous to pitch their tents. They will for old time sake remain Affiliate to the NSE just like FOCI is Affiliated to the NSE but will immediately seek a more professionally focused umbrella – Federation of Professional Engineering Institutions (FEIN).
The more affiliations these Institutions made, the better for them. Fact is, most of these Engineering Institutions have their international membership already like the Cost & Appraiser Engineers (World Cost Council).
THE CONSEQUENCES:
From the foregoing, when the GAVEL FALLS, head or tail, the professional Engineering Institutions in Nigeria will not remain the same. From the series of meetings held so far, the resolve is the same; “Engineering practice must take root in Nigeria”.
So the tough choice await us all. Is it option A or option B? What will it be? Where will the NSE be headed when the GAVEL FALLS !
This is my lone VOICE speaking from the wilderness
Engr. Israel Abraham
The Professional Engineer
This writer asked an important question but I couldnt comprehend if any answer was given by the end of the write-up.
As for me, the NSE should operate as a mouth-piece for all ingeniers but should review her leadership succession policy to hinge more on and reflect more of professional competence while COREN should operate as a confederation of professional institutions.
COREN should have an Executive Council of institutional representatives and an Open Council of all registered ingeniers as well as an Advisory Board of allied professions.
The Advisory Board is needed because the new focus of engineering is holistic/systemic.