By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, announced on Thursday that the state has implemented the engineering regulations monitoring program to improve the quality of project delivery in the state.
After successfully implementing the program, the state established the State Technical Committee and Delta State Expatriate Monitoring Committee in line with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN) Act to oversee the quality of projects.
Governor Oborevwori made this revelation during a meeting with the President and Chairman of the Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, and her delegation at the Government House in Asaba.
In his remarks, Governor Oborevwori commended Oguntala, the 34th President and the first female President of the NSE, noting the significant progress made in the engineering profession in Nigeria over the past two decades.
He stated, “In Delta State, we have formally implemented the Engineering Regulations Monitoring Program by establishing the State Technical Committee and the Delta State Expatriate Monitoring Committee in compliance with the COREN Act to ensure project quality monitoring.”
“I am confident that the Engineering Regulations Monitoring Program will reinforce the existing quality control measures and promote engineering practices in the state.”
Governor Oborevwori also highlighted the state’s commitment to regularly organizing training and specialized courses for engineers in the civil service to keep them updated with the latest knowledge and skills.
“We prioritize capacity building, which is why we appoint qualified engineers to serve as Directors and Permanent Secretaries in relevant departments,” he added.
“The engineering profession in Nigeria has made significant strides in the last two decades, and I am pleased to acknowledge that our local engineers can compete effectively with their foreign counterparts,” Governor Oborevwori stated.
“Our administration maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards substandard work, which is why we have engaged a reputable company like Julius Berger Plc to carry out projects including three flyovers, a cloverleaf, pedestrian bridges, and road expansion projects in the Warri and Effurun metropolis.”
Earlier, Engr. Oguntala commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the developmental achievements of his administration, noting that they were in the state for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the society.
Oguntala emphasized the importance of the state government continuing its efforts in capacity building for engineers through focused training programs to enhance their skills and expertise. She also highlighted the readiness of the NSE to collaborate with the government on training and retraining initiatives for engineers in the state.
In recognition of the governor’s approval of the Grade Level Nine (GL 9) entry point for engineers in the Delta State Civil Service, Oguntala recommended that qualified engineers be appointed to lead engineering-related Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
“The implementation of an improved salary structure for engineers demonstrates your administration’s commitment to fostering an environment where engineering professionals can excel and make meaningful contributions to the state’s development,” she added.
