By NAN

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has decried the deployment of unregistered project managers by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other public sector players.

Dr Jamilu Yankwashi, newly inaugurated President, CIPMN, said this after taking his oath of office in Abuja.

Yankwashi said that Project Management was an important part of the built industry, as it plays a critical role in curtailing the growing menace of building collapse in the country.

To correct this, he said that the newly elected members of the Institute’s Governing Board would begin enforcement of all relevant provisions of the Institute’s Act.

“The Act of the Institute makes it mandatory for both public and private sectors players to ensure that all project managers were duly certified by CIPMN.

“It is unfortunate that this Act has been continually violated.

“Going forward any person found practicing without licence will be arrested and prosecuted.

“Section 14 subsection 9 of the CIPMN establishment Act, No 3 of 2018, clearly provided that nobody shall be appointed to manage projects in any organisation whether it is public sector, organisation, or private sector organisation without the licence of the Chartered Institute.

“And if found culpable, such person has committed offence punishable under Section 19 of the Act which he or she can bag up to two years in prison,” he said.

He said that the enforcing the law was necessary as perpetual disobedience of the law had empowered people to do the wrong things on project sites.

“The issue of building collapse has remained a major cause for concern across the country.

“I urge the government to enforce regulations in the field of projects management and urge MDAs and public sector players to prioritize engagement of registered managers for their projects,” he said.