Okowa Calls For Legislation To Check Quackery In The Construction Industry
WORRIED by tales of collapse of buildings in different parts of the country, the Governor of Delta State, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for legislation to regulate activities of workers in the construction and building industry.
Declaring open the 18th national executive council (NEC) meeting of National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) in Asaba, Governor Okowa observed that investments in the construction and building industry have been undermined by substandard jobs, unethical conduct and sharp practices.
According to him, “it is time to push for appropriate legislation that will regulate the training, licensing, hiring and compensation of workers in the construction and building industry; that is the way to fish our bad eggs, and enthrone standard and excellence in the industry because, the construction and building industry is so strategic that it cannot be left for every Tom, Dick and Harry.”
The Governor described the theme for the meeting, ‘Infrastructure and Policy Development: Panacea for economic growth,’ as apt, stating, “a good economy is built on the ability of the government to improve the welfare of the people by providing basic infrastructure, public amenities and social services.”
“The level of infrastructure in any society has a direct correlation with national development; it is a good indicator of its economic growth and, when the infrastructure is sophisticated in nature, it earns the country a respectable status in the comity of nations,” he added.
While stating that his administration has urban renewal through massive infrastructure development as one of its cardinal programmes, Governor Okowa reiterated, “for Nigeria to become a global economic force, we need to demonstrate resolve and determination, at both federal and state levels to upgrade and modernise our infrastructure; we must not just try to play catch-up with the developed economies of the world, but move ato a faster pace than they are moving, because, they are not resting on their oars.”
In his welcome speech, the President-General of NUCECFWW, Comrade Amechi Asugwuni decried the decay in infrastructure in Nigeria noting that it has led to laying off of staff and called for the federal government to take urgent steps to address the situation, especially, in the area of electricity generation, construction of roads, industrialisation and diversification of the economy.
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