24 February 2015, Abuja – The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has said it will take advantage of the ‘No Objection’ clause currently required from operators who would want to import skills in the country’s electricity sector by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Okeke
NERC now issues a clearance to any operator before it can import skills for use in its operations within Nigeria’s power sector. The essence of the clause, according to the regulatory commission is to grow in-country skills and retain jobs for Nigerians in the emerging sector.
As expected, a no-objection can only be granted to an operator for importation of skills when such skills do not exist or are inadequate in the country, thus, necessitating its importation.
Director General of NAPTIN, Reuben Okeke told members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) that the training institute has already initiated moves to take advantage of such clause to improve in-country skills reserves to retain jobs in the sector for Nigerians.
Okeke in his remarks at the meeting with members of NSE led by the President, Ademola Olorunfemi, stated that NERC has by such gesture indicated its support for the agency’s programmes.
“The regulator has identified with us. Before you can import any skill in the power sector now, you have to get a no-objection from them.
NAPTIN has to be positioned in such a way as to satisfy the market. That is why it is very good that this meeting of today is essential that we move it a step forward,” Okeke said.
He explained that NAPTIN has upgraded its training facilities to provide up-to-date training modules to its students. This, he said will be followed by an implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NSE to have students from the institute tested and certified by the NSE.
“No body, except those who are enemies of progress, will refuse to identify and proclaim the huge milestones that have taken place in the power sector. I spent 35 years in the power sector.
I can tell you that from 2009 till date, the huge improvements we have in physical infrastructure, including the human capital which we have trained, surpasses anyone we have seen before,” Okeke said.
– This Day
