The Federal Government emphasized that power engineers would now be subject to new laws as it expressed worries yesterday in Abuja about the growing quack culture in the electrical industry.
Remember that as of 2021, 636 fire incidents nationwide were reported to have been caused by electrical discharge, while 447 cases were attributed to electrical equipment. The Federal Fire Service had previously determined that electrical sparks were the primary cause of fire incidents nationwide.
In a similar report, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) stated that between January 2020 and September 2021, at least 156 Nigerians lost their lives and 87 sustained injuries in accidents involving electricity.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas spoke during the inauguration of the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN) governing council, stating that Nigerians’ lives must be protected and the power industry must be sanitized.
If the move is implemented, the speakers emphasized that unlicensed practicing engineers will not have any place to hide in the nation.
Sani Umar Bala, a member of the lower house, spoke on behalf of Abbas, who stated that the institute and its governing council should register electricity engineers and experts who would either be sanctioned or adhere to the code of conduct issued by the institute.
He claims that the institute will also be heavily involved in monitoring the sector and certifying various types and degrees of practitioners.
According to him, the institute would also replace the existing documentation of unlicensed or uncertified individuals performing any kind of installation or maintenance in the sector.
“This inauguration is significant for the power sector,” stated Abbas. “Power engineers are supposed to be subject to regulatory oversight from the institute and its governing council.
Power engineers and other professionals who are expected to follow the institute’s code of conduct or risk sanctions are expected to register,’ he added.
“Additionally, the institute will oversee and certify various practitioner types or levels in the sector. Additionally, the institution would replace the existing documentation of unlicensed or uncertified individuals performing any kind of installation or maintenance in the sector. It will purge quacks from the power industry.”
William Metieh, the chairman of the CIPEN inauguration committee, told The Guardian that the new institute will clean up the power industry and help the whole nation.
“This inauguration is crucial because it will be beneficial to the entire country because it intends to sanitize the power sector. It will ensure that all skills practiced in the power sector will be regulated. It carries both the regulatory functions and that of an association. It will reduce accidents suffered in the past by the power sector,” he stated.
