Senate Seeks Punishment For Builders & Owners Of Collapsed School In Jos

The Nigerian Senate has called for stiffer punishment for violation of construction and building codes in the country in a bid to contain the growing cases of collapsed buildings.

It noted that cases of professional misconduct by supposedly trained officials were on the rise, saying that such punishment must be applied to all those in the line of a failed building, including the architects, engineers, and the owners of the affected property.

The resolution was reached in Abuja as senators debated a matter of urgent public importance on the collapse of Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State. The school, which collapsed on July 12, claimed the lives of 22 students and members of staff, while over 100 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Sen. Diket Plang (APC, Plateau-Central), who moved the motion, recalled how the sad incident altered the lives of many parents, families, and the government of the state.

The Senate specifically recommended stiffer penalties for anyone involved in violating building regulations, urging the Plateau State Government to conduct a full investigation and bring to book, all those found culpable.

In addition to observing a minute’s silence in honour of the dead and urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief to them, the Senate also called on Federal Government agencies to mobilise to Jos to offer medical care to the victims.

Contributing to the debate, Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi-Central), said the probe panel set by the state government should not be just another panel. “The work must be thorough and anybody found to have been responsible for an act of commission or omission be penalised,” he stated.

Also speaking, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi-Central), suggested drastic actions against building collapse. He observed that collapsed buildings were designed, approved, and built by persons whose identity was not hidden. “The architects and building engineers should be brought to book. This is a case of professional negligence,” he said.

Similarly, Sen. Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra-Central), noted that Nigeria faced “a case of rampant professional negligence in our building industry,” adding that the offenders were rarely punished. As an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Sen. Umeh expressed his deep concern over the frequent collapse of buildings in Nigeria, particularly the recent tragedy in Jos that claimed the lives of twenty children. He called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of unprofessional engineers who, due to negligence, fail to perform their duties adequately. Furthermore, he urged regulatory bodies responsible for building standards in Nigeria to rigorously enforce existing building codes and procedures to prevent future incidents.