By isqil Najim
On Monday May 22nd, the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, the chattered Institute of Power Engineers.
It must be noted that this Bill is different from another Bill, Chartered Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers which was passed by the Senate on December.
The Bill originated from lower House, and sponsored by Hon. Sani Umar Bala, Hon. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, Hon. Solomon Maren and Hon. Francis Waive. The first reading was on October 20, 2020.
In Senate, the Bill received it first reading on October 20, 2020.
The bill was subsequently well debated in the House, voted and passed for second reading on March 3, 2021 and there after was referred to the relevant Committee of the House.
On Wednesday, 25th January, 2023, the Nigerian Senate sat and deliberate on many bills among them are Bills for concurrence. Having been passed by the lower Chamber. Some the includes: Pension Reform Act, 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2025) sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir; Federal University of Health Sciences Ila-Orangun, Osun State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2101) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir; Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 304) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir; Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1086) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir among others.
5. Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1086) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1086) is read the Second Time.
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 25, 2023
For Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1086); The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered and approved Clauses 1-24 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended. Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1086) was read the Third Time and PASSED!
The Bill having been passed by both houses was subsequently sent to the President Mohammadu Buhari for assent and was signed into law on Monday 22nd of May 2023 as announced.
Here are what you need to know about the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, now an Act.
1. A new body is established now known as the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria. The Institute- (a) Shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal; (b) May sue and be sued in its corporate name; and may acquire, hold and dispose of any property, movable and immovable.
2. The Institute is empowered to determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the Power Engineering profession and raising those standards, from time to time, as circumstances may permit. In accordance with the provisions of the Bill, it will secure establishment and maintenance of the register of power engineers entitled to practice as power engineers; conduct examinations leading to the award of professional competency certificates; ensure the furtherance, maintenance and observance of ethical standards and professionalism among Power Engineers in Nigeria; ensure detailed synergy between the industry and academia in the power industry .
3.Membership of the Institute is divided into two categories of Corporate and Associates in the following subcategories Fellows; Power Engineers (Members); Power Engineering Technologist (Associate Power Engineers); Power Engineering Technicians; Power Engineering Craftsmen; Power Engineering Corporate Firms.
4. Some of membership privileges are: (a) The use of abbreviation Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN) written as CPE; (b) The right to affix a member seal and stamp on every document endorsed by or emanating from them;
5. Members in the class of fellow will use the abbreviation of “FCPE”; members registered into the category of Corporate Member to use initials “MCPE”; members registered into the category of power engineering technologist (Associate Power Engineer) Member to use initials “ACPE”; members registered into the category of power engineering Technician Member to use initials “PET”; members registered into the category of power engineering Craftsman Member shall be entitled to use initials “PEC”;
6. The Institute will be led by President, Deputy President and Four vice- Presidents of the Institute who must be outstanding Fellows of the Institute and elected at the annual general meeting of the Institute and shall each hold office for a term of Two years from the date of the election. Other officers of Institute will similarly be elected at the AGM
7. The Bill established a governing council which is charged with the responsibility for providing the guiding policy administration of the Institute, oversee the activities of the executive committee and setting the standards of education therein. make rules and regulations for the proper functioning of the Institute
8. The New Institute will receive no funding from the Federal Government, States or its Agencies aside for grants, donations, gifts, etc. However, it provided that “the Council shall establish and maintain a fund, the management and control of which shall be in the hands of the Council, and into which shall be paid- all subventions, fees, fines, penalties and charges for services rendered or publications made by the Council; gifts, endowments, bequests, loans, donations, grants or aids; foreign aids and assistance from bilateral and multilateral agencies such as affiliated bodies on power engineering; donations charges and monies payable to the institute in pursuance of this Bill shall be without any conditions whatsoever and not inimical to the Institute, Nigerian government or its agencies.”
9. The Bill made provision for the a Registrar, who must have an Electrical Engineering background with at least 18 years cognate experience in the Nigeria Electric Supply industry. The Registrar will also be the Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer to the Council and responsible for the day to day administration of the Institute.
10. The Register of members consist of Six (6) parts in respect of:(i) Fellows; (ii) Power Engineers (Members); (iii) Power Engineering Technologist (Associate Power Engineer) members; (iv) Power Engineering Technician Members; (v) Power Engineering Craftsmen members; (vi) Power Engineering Graduate members;
6 (b) The register of Corporate Firms consist of Six (6) parts, in respect of: (i) Consulting Engineering in the power industry; (ii) Engineering Contracting in the power industry; (iii) Manufacturing in the power industry; (iv) Engineering Services in the power industry;(v) Vendors of Machinery, Equipment and Engineering Materials in the power industry; (vi) Maintenance/Repairs and Fabrication in the power industry.
This Bill now and Act establishes the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria and charges it with the responsibility for determining the standard of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become Chartered Power Engineers.