NEMSA inaugurates contractor certification panel to end quackery in power sector
The managing director/CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, (NEMSA), Peter Ewesor, on Monday assured Nigerians that the goal of his agency is to stamp out quacks/unqualified electrical installation contractors and bad electrical installations in the country.
This was disclosed at the inauguration of NEMSA’s electrical installation contractors certification panel at its 16 zonal offices across the country, Timothy Oyedeji, the director of press in the ministry of power.
In late July, Babatunde Fashola, the minister of power, works and housing, flagged off the national certification of electrical contractors in Nigeria, under the aegis of licensed electrical contractors.
The NEMSA boss said the inauguration is to ensure that standards are adhere to, stressing that the panel must ensure that no compromise is entertained in the discharge of their assignments.
He challenged the panelists to pay attention to identifying lapses in the power sector, insisting that all places where electricity is in use must have the installation done by experts, absence of which can result in unstable networks and fire incidences.
Ewesor enjoined the panelists to comply with design format, but should not engage in improper planning and execution of electrical projects, stressing that the use of sub-standard materials, equipment, lack of adherence to oversight procedure and code of practice should not be the hallmark of a qualified and professional electrical contractor.
He set the agenda that the panelists inaugurated must ensure that only competent, certified contractors are registered.
This, he said, informed bringing them on board as Nigerian engineers and technologists to constitute the panel of experts, since they are the ones to determine the professional competence of people who can provide electricity services in the safest manner.
The panel, which will be based in the 16 zonal areas offices of NEMSA is made up of representatives of works and housing sector, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Discos, Gencos, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NSE, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), as well as from the ministry of labour and employment, and an observer from NEMSA headquarters.
The National Certification Programme, by law has provision for sanctions, as a defaulter is to pay a fine of N500, 000 or 3 months imprisonment or both, as contained in the NEMSA’s enabling law.
Ibrahim Haruna, the certification coordinator for NEMSA, assured that the panel will carry out its assignment in line with strict professionalism that is expected of them, and without fear or favour of anyone.
Also in his remarks, Tukur Gidado, NEMSA’s executive director, technical services, emphasized the importance of technical expertise in ensuring that electrical contractors consider the importance of safety of electrical installations at home, or in commercial and industrial premises.