SYNOPSIS 6
REGULATION OF ENGINEERING
BUSINESS IN NIGERIA
LEGEL FRAMEWORK FOR THE REGULATION
OF ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA
• The legal frame work regulating Engineering activities in Nigeria are:
1. Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended;
2. COREN Act, 2019;
3. By-laws
The Nigeria Constitution
• Nigeria constitution is the grund norm upon which all other laws derived their validity. Any law/Act that is
inconsistence with the provision(s) of Constitution is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency. (S. 1 (3),
1999 Constitution).
• The National Assembly whose function and power to make Act for the regulation of Engineering activities in
Nigeria derives her power from the provision of the Constitution. The Constitution thereby empowered the
National Assembly to regulate engineering activities through enactment of law establishing the COREN
Council with specific functions and power delegated to it. (S. 12 1999 Constitution)
The COREN Act Cap E11, 2019
The Act establishes the Council of Engineers in Nigeria with power and duties to ensure smooth running and
practicing of engineering activities in Nigeria (S. 1 COREN Act). The Act further accommodates some
engineering cadres as members of the Council. These include registered engineering technologists; registered
engineering technicians; and registered engineering craftsmen. S. 1 (2g) COREN Act.
According to the Act, the general duty of the Council is to determine who are engineers in Nigeria, to
determine the standard of knowledge and skill to be acquire before a person can qualify as engineer in Nigeria;
to secure and maintain the register of persons who qualify to practice engineering work in Nigeria; to make
regulations and by law for the purpose of controlling engineering activities in Nigeria;; and to perform any
other functions and duties as may be directed by the minister and other law on engineering activities in
Nigeria. S.1 (a-e).
Very import to this class is the provisions relating to engineering Offences and penalties thereto. The Act list
the following as offences in engineering practices in Nigeria. These include:
1. Unqualified person practicing as an engineer for reward; (s. 18 (1 a)).
• 2. impersonation by using any name, title, addition or description implying
that he is an engineer. (s. 18 (1 b))
• 3. Falsification in any matter relating to register. (S. 4)
• 4. Intentional or reckless falsification of particulars. (S. 3 (a and b)).
• Note that the above offences are not professional misconduct but to
persons who are not registered engineers.
• The penalties for these offence are:
• If the person is convicted by the inferior court, he shall be liable to a f ine not
exceeding #100.00. But if it by the High Court, he shall be liable to a f ine of
#1000.00, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both. (S. 18
(5a).
• PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT UNDER THE ACT
• 1. Offence incompatible with the status of an Engineer
• 2. Offence warranting removing the name of the affected engineer from
the register of engineers.
• 3. Fraudulent registration of name of a person in the register of engineers.
• 4. Failure to pay annual practicing fee.
• Section 16 (1a-d)
PUNISHMENTS
• 1. Reprimanding.
• 2. Striking out the name of the affected engineer from the
register of engineers.
• Power of Minister in regulating engineering business in Nigeria
• According to the Act, the Minister shall have power to give
directions in writing to the Council of COREN and such
direction must have force of law.
• The Minister shall have power to induce the private industries
to providing adequate training facilities to engineering cadres
in Nigeria, this is however subject to the approval of the
President.( S. 3)
• ENGINEERING GRADUATE AND NYSC
• It mandatory under the Act for the NYSC to communicate
location of graduate engineers and engineering technologists
to the Council. S.14
REGISTERED TRIBUNAL AND
INVSTIGATING PANEL
• Registered Tribunal
• This Tribunal is known as Registered Engineers Disciplinary
Tribunal charged with the function of considering and
determining any case referred to it by the Panel or any other
cases taken cognizance by the Tribunal herself. S. 15 (1a).
• The Tribunal shall consist of the President of Council and
eleven other members duly appointed by the Council and shall
include not less than 4 members of Council holding of fic e. S.
15 (1b).
• Investigating Panel
• The Panel is set up to investigate any report of misconduct
from an engineer and determine whether such engineer should
be made to face disciplinary action before the Tribunal. S. 15
(3a & b).
• The Panel is appointed by the Council and shall consist seven
members of the Council. S. 15 (4 & 5).
