Abuja – The National Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) has requested government to provide modern equipment in technical colleges to enable them train competent craftsmen in line with industry requirement.
The Chairman of the NATE, Abuja chapter, Mr Jubril Kadri, made the request when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Kadri decried the current trend where operators in the built environment sourced for craftsmen from neighbouring West African countries.
He said that the government must take urgent action to alter the unhealthy trend by providing the equipment otherwise the nation’s youth would not be able to withstand the competition from neighbouring countries.
“It is sad that the various levels of government have refused to develop and equip the technical colleges across the states of the federation.
“The technical schools are abandoned and their students are not recognised. So, when the students graduate, they go and look for some jobs outside their training.
“They have to be trained, re-trained, and should be given the opportunity to constantly apply their new knowledge on the job.
“So, until we go back to the basis, start equipping these schools and get the right instructors to train them, the nation and our youth will continue to suffer these problems,’’ he said.
Kadri urged operators in the building sector (construction companies) to avoid the casualisation of their workforce by employing skilled workers whose remunerations were commensurate with their level of competence.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He advised the construction companies to ensure that regular trainings were organised for the craftsmen and artisans under their employ to upgrade their skills and capacities.
“We cannot completely rule out casualisation of labour but the construction companies should expose their workers to regular training to enhance their competence.
“It is also important that the construction companies employ full time competent technical staff to work with whenever they secured contract to handle projects.
“There should be regular training for their full time technical staff. Adequate staff welfare and good working conditions must be provided to get the best out of these workers,’’ Kadri added.
He further called on members of all classes of the engineering profession to cooperate with one another to promote high ethical standards in their contribution to national development.
NAN reports that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) classified the engineering professionals into the engineers, technologists, technicians and craftsmen. (NAN)