By Angela Atabo

The National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) has called on the Federal Government and construction firms to embrace green cement to cushion the effects of climate change.

The NUCECFWW President, Stephen Okoro, made the call on the sidelines of the 7th National Quadrennial Delegates Conference tagged “Abuja 2025” on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is, “Building Trade Unions’ Future through Strategic Organising and Investments.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that green cement is a range of eco-friendly, sustainable alternatives to conventional Portland cement, featuring significantly lower carbon emissions.

According to Okoro, just transition is now a global phenomenon, representing the transfer of nature from carbon-based economic activities to a low- or zero-carbon economy.

He, however, said this is done in a manner that limits the negative impact on workers, their families and communities.

“Likewise in the Civil Engineering, Construction and Furniture Industries, employers in the industry are advised to key into just transition programmes.

“It is time for us to look into use of green cement for construction,” he said.

Okoro explained that not too long ago, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, reaffirmed government’s policy on construction of concrete roads instead of asphalt.

He said that this resulted in the revocation of contracts hitherto awarded to some construction firms.

“Following these new trends, many workers in the industry lost their jobs and some employers went bankrupt causing untold hardship in the society.

“Now the position of the union is that we are in support of concrete road construction especially in areas with difficult topography, but this should take a just transition or gradual process for the following reasons.

“Most employers in the industry are yet to procure concrete road construction equipment and majority of our skilled members are yet to be properly trained on the use of this equipment for concrete roads.”

The president, therefore, called on the government to assist employers in the industry in the training of more artisans in that regard so that gainful employment would be guaranteed with efficiency and high output to accelerate speed of work.

He said that the year 1972 was the first time the issue of global climate change warning came to lime light in Stockholm and Nigeria signed a document on climate change warning in 1972.

“The question now is what transparent steps has our country Nigeria taken in this direction since 1972 and what strategies have been put in place to mitigate climate change effects on the people?

According to Okoro, the union’s suggestion to government agencies in-charge of environmental control is to enforce climate change violations sanctions.

He said that the union also called for the need to fund grassroots campaign and advocacy on climate change mitigation.

He said that there was need for transparency framework on climate change control and an aggressive planting of economic trees and war against deforestation.

He said that there should be compensation for those affected by climate change effects and there should be dredging of Nigeria’s waterways.

Speaking on building collapse and regulation, Okoro said that the union was worried because the incidence of building collapse in the country has reached an alarming rate.

“Stakeholders like us in the Civil Engineering and Construction Industry can no longer keep silent as the incidences keep reoccurring with many lives and property wasted.

“It is imperative that we must advocate that our governments at local, state and federal level should reawaken the regulatory agencies in the building and environment sector to ensure strict compliance with building regulation.”

Okoro said that NUCECFWW strongly demands a holistic approach by regional and urban planning authorities to shun compromise in the discharge of their duties to save lives and properties. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

By Angela Atabo

The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Building Code Advisory Committee (NBCAC) to reposition Nigeria’s building and construction industry based on standards, regulation, and professionalism.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, represented by the Minister of State, Yusuf Ata, announced this in Abuja.

Dangiwa explained that the committee’s inauguration reflected the government’s commitment to ensure all Nigerian homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and public buildings were constructed to safe, durable, and sustainable specifications.

He described the National Building Code as a vital regulatory tool that sets minimum standards for all stages of construction, promoting quality and safety across the industry.

“However, progress in implementing the Code has been slow due to challenges in ratification, enforcement, and compliance.”

Dangiwa expressed optimism under the renewed administration of President Bola Tinubu, emphasising the committee’s critical role in addressing Nigeria’s recurring building collapse issues.

He highlighted the need for the code, citing problems like unplanned urban development, frequent building collapses, fire outbreaks, environmental abuse, and lack of standardised design references for professionals.

“The National Council on Housing and Urban Development initiated the code to curb these problems.

“The code establishes enforcement units at federal, state, and local government levels staffed by registered professionals including architects, engineers, builders, surveyors, town planners, fire officers, estate surveyors, and public health and safety officers, all tasked with implementation.

“The Advisory Committee will periodically review the National Building Code and advise the minister on related matters.

“It will also recommend members for specialised technical sub-committees covering pre-design, design, construction, and post-construction phases to ensure alignment with the code’s objectives.

“The committee will serve a renewable three-year term, meeting at least twice annually with sessions subject to the minister’s approval.”

Dangiwa urged members to uphold professionalism, provide quarterly progress reports, and address challenges promptly.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, described the committee’s reconstitution as a deliberate measure to ensure housing projects adhere to modern standards that protect lives and promote resilience in the built environment.

Mohammed Faworaja was appointed Chairman of the NBCAC, with Matthias Kastuda as Secretary.

Both, along with other professionals and government representatives from across the federation, pledged commitment to the government’s objectives. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Federal Government has charged the newly constituted Boards and Managing Directors of the South West, South-South and North Central Development Commissions to ensure prudence in executing projects.

The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, gave the charge at the  inauguration of the boards and Managing Directors of the Commissions on Thursday in Abuja.

Momoh said that the occasion marked a critical milestone in the collective commitment to further balance sustainable and inclusive development across all regions of the nation.

He explained that the aim of establishing the commissions was to improve on the infrastructures and address regional disparities, promoting economic growth, and improving the quality of life for the citizens.

The minister stressed the importance of building an improved security in all respective regions, ensuring that all projects and initiatives are need-driven and stakeholders are carried along.

“It is now your duty to ensure that the commissions operate efficiently and deliver practical results to the people.

“It is crucial that the commissions align their programmes with the priority areas of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Momoh said.

Similarly, the Minister of State for the ministry, Uba Ahmadu, said the occasion marked another significant step in the ministry’s shared effort to promote inclusive growth, regional development and national unity.

Ahmadu noted that the establishment of the commissions was more than just a move towards political correctness, but a strategic move by President Bola Tinubu to accelerate development in all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

“The mandate of these commissions is very clear – to act as catalysts for infrastructural renewal, social empowerment, and economic diversification with the people.

“They act as drivers of peace, stability, and sustainable development by tackling specific challenges, coordinating projects, and mobilising stakeholders towards shared progress.

“As governing board members, you have been entrusted with a sacred duty.

“You are the custodians of the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians in your regions.

“The responsibility before you is that you must ensure use of resources, promoting transparency and accountability and aligning all with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President,” he added.

He also urged them to approach their tasks with vision, integrity, and dedication; collaborate closely with departments and agencies, governors and build strong partnerships with the private sectors and development partners.

On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, advised the commissions to ensure women inclusiveness in the delivery of their programmes, saying that in all the regions women are over 50 per cent.

“We all are aware that in all of the regions, women are over 50 per cent. So, I would like to advocate for mainstreaming the delivery of your programmes,” she said.

In his response, the Chairman, South West Development Commission, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, thanked the President for the opportunity given to them to serve the people of the region.

He pledged to abide by the oath of office as well as collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited  by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Ebonyi Government has announced an increment in the minimum wage of civil servants from N70,000 to N90,000.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe, made the disclosure on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council Meeting.

Omebe said that the increment was to enhance workers’ welfare, adding that the implementation was with immediate effect and covered all categories of the workforce.

“We want to state categorically that this is not a political statement as this government does not toy with workers’ welfare.

“The government has offset the pension and gratuities of state retirees from its creation in 1996 to date.

“The verification process for retirees in the local government areas had commenced and when completed, the payment will be made,” he said.

He also said that if the government did not play politics with such huge financial obligations, it will not do so with additional N20,000 to workers.

“The governor is a leader, builder of capacity, human beings and infrastructure.

“The government is anchored on the biblical people’s charter of needs mantra, which is leading the people according to their needs,” the commissioner said.

Omebe disclosed that the EXCO also considered the implementation of the eighth-year tenure policy for directors and immediate retirement of those who have served for the period on the same cadre.

“The EXCO exhaustively deliberated on the issue and approved its implementation for the affected permanent secretaries and directors,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews. ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Said Alkali, says the newly approved National Land Transport Policy by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will improve regulations of the road sector to ensure safety.

Alkali said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

The ‎News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new National Land Transport Policy in Nigeria aims to create an efficient, safe, integrated, and sustainable land transport system.

Alkali said that the new policy would be driven by private sector investment and modern technology, including cleaner energy solutions.

‎‎According to him, the new policy is the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria while the transport sector is the most burdened mode of transportation in any part of the world.

“A lot of potentials remain untapped here, and we feel we should harness all these potentials by having a framework on which the sector needs to operate.

“The framework is going to strengthen the sector,” the minister said.

He added that the Federal Government was ready to build bus terminals and CNG stations in the nation’s six geopolitical zones.
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‎“We have moved transportation to the next level with the support of the President and FEC and approval of contract for constructing six bus terminals as a pilot scheme in the six political zones.
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‎“The locations of sites are chosen on their economic viability, and this is just a pilot scheme. We are going to engage with the World Bank to continue with the development of these terminals,” he said.
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‎Alkali, who explained that the terminals would have CNG centres with the presence of security agencies, added that most of the reasons behind road traffic accidents were linked to drug abuse.
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‎According to him, government will be insisting on the use of manifest for the passengers that take off from the station, whether the buses belong to government or private individuals.

“Government has a responsibility to ensure safety. So, we need to ensure all these facilities are on our roads, but certainly a journey of 1000 miles starts with a step,” he said.

On rail sector, the minister said the corridor on the eastern narrow gate from Port Harcourt to Aba has been put to use since last year.

According to him, the project was just at the outskirts of Port Harcourt before the present administration.

‎“We are working hard to see how we can as well put another corridor from Kaduna to Kano to use hopefully before the end of next year.
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‎“We are also working on the rail project from Kano to Katsina with a branch line in Jigawa State. They have already started laying the rail track in Jigawa State.

“So, all these are monumental achievements that the government has achieved in the last two years in the transportation sector,” he said.

According to him, transportation is a gateway to the economy of any nation with the capacity to boost growth and improve the livelihood of citizens. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab