The International Facility Management Association (Nigeria Chapter) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law last Wednesday the Executive Order 11 on National Public Buildings Maintenance Policy.
While expressing the association’s delight about the development, IFMA Nigeria President, Mr Segun Adebayo noted that the Executive Order was long overdue, explaining that with that action, the professional management and maintenance of the Federal assets is assured and guaranteed.
Adebayo further said: ‘As we earnestly look forward to the implementation of the provisions of the new order, through the setting up of maintenance department in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, our association is committed to collaborating with the Federal Government, through relevant Ministries, to provide required capacity building and knowledge development.
‘As an association, we have been advocating the integration of sustainable practices into the built environment and this has started yielding the desired results’.
IFMA then expressed appreciation to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for the feat ‘because his efforts in the Ministry have yielded phenomenal results and it would positively impacts the various projects that this administration has embarked upon’.
The Executive Order provides that the Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to establishing a sustained maintenance programme to optimise the enormous investment in public infrastructure.
The Government, it further stated, is determined to provide sustainable employment, job opportunities for large, small and medium-sized businesses, artisans, and persons with vocational skills. It also provides that public assets will be maintained at a minimal cost.
By that Executive Order, the Department of Federal Public Assets Maintenance will oversee the coordination, implementation, management, and maintenance of federal public assets, facilities, and premises across Nigeria.
The agency will also conduct maintenance needs assessment, development of maintenance plan, and the necessary procurement.
The agency is tasked with monitoring the outsourced facility management services of all public buildings and likewise, and establishing a comprehensive database of all public buildings and facilities.
Public buildings will also be modified to accommodate the special needs of persons living with disabilities, while ensuring that all buildings would be able to operate at optimal capacity.
IFMA Nigeria is set to celebrate 25 years of impacting the built environment in Nigeria. The association says it has always strategically aligned with other institutions in capacity building; research and development; mentorship and partnership.
The current council, according to the statement, has engaged both the private and public sector stakeholders to play up the relevance of the profession in the built environment in a complementary way.
IFMA Nigeria is an affiliate of IFMA Worldwide with membership open to professionals actively engaged in the application practice, teaching, and researching of facilities management principles and techniques for the built environment.
The association is involved in periodic training, lectures, facility tours, interactive seminars, education, and research, which are all aimed at equipping relevant officers with current skills, knowledge; and increasing effective practice of facility management in both the private and public sectors.
