UPHOLDING THE DIGNITY OF ENGINEERING PROFESSION

ON THE OCCASION OF ENGR. OLIVER TABUGO ANYAEJI FNSE, FAEng LECTURE ON 29/09/2015

BY RT. HON. CHEVALIER DR. JOSEPH UUJAMHAN, KSGG, Phd, MSc, BEng, MASME, MIMechE, MASHRAE, FNSE

2.0 DIGNITY

The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect.

3.0 PROFESSION

WHAT IS A PROFESSION? WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL?

A profession is a “vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply objective counsel and service to others, for direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain”.

“practiced on the basis of relevant professional qualifications in a personal, responsible and professionally independent capacity by those providing intellectual and conceptual services in the interest of the client and the public”.

3.1 HOW DO WE IDENTIFY AN OCCUPATION TO BE A PROFESSION?

• The occupation is full time• The establishment of a training school.• The establishment of a University or University

running the programme• The establishment of a local association• The establishment of a national association• The introduction of code of professional ethics• The establishment of State licensing Laws.

3.2 PROFESSION cntd.

“Profession arises when any trade or occupation transforms itself through the development of formal qualifications based upon education, apprenticeship, and examinations, the emergence of regulatory bodies with powers to admit and discipline members and some degree of monopoly of rights”.

• Academics• Accountants• Actuaries• Architects• Audiologist• Clergymen• Dentistry• Economist• Engineers• Language Professionals • Lawyers• Librarians• Nurses• Pharmacists

• Physicians• Physiotherapists• Professional Pilots• Scientists• Social workers • Speech Language Pathologists• Statisticians• Surgeons• Surveyors• Teachers• Urban Planners

3.3 SUSTAINING PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY?

i. Traditional ban on corporate practice of the professions

ii. Outright prohibition on ownership of professional business by non-professionals

3.4 WHY BEING A PROFESSIONAL?

i. Profession confers status and prestige.ii. A University degree, continuing education and

licenses or professional qualification gives one a feel of pride and self satisfaction.

3.5 WHY A PROFESSIONAL BODY?

• Cognitive base• Institutionalized training• Licensing• Work autonomy • Colleague Control• Code of Ethics Larson emphasised the need :-• High standards of professional and intellectual

excellence • Occupation with special powers and prestige • An exclusive elite group

3.6 REMUNERATION FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES?

Many major Engineering projects today follow World Bank formats of Quality Based + Cost system (QBC) or Quality Based System only. (QBS)

My suggestion will be to improve on the entry level of the Engineer and then for engineers to list the special hazards that they face which will then justify and attract additional allowances.

3.7 JACKSON DEFINITION OF A PROFESSIONAL?

“A special type of occupation --- possessing corporate solidarity, prolonged specialized training in a body of abstract knowledge, and a collectivity or service orientation, a vocational subculture which comprises implicit codes of behaviours, generates an espirit de corps among members of the same profession, and ensures them certain occupational advantages ---, (also) bureaucratic structures and monopolistic priviledges to perform certain types of work, professional literature, legislation etc”.

3.10 Herbert Hoover, President and Engineer cntd.

• One great American Engineer President, who was the 31st President Herbert Hoover left a mark behind with his definition of who an Engineer is. To him, “Engineering is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes to men. Then it elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of life. That is the engineer's high privilege.

• The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts, step by step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like the doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers. He cannot, like the architects, cover his failures with trees and vines. He cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope the people will forget. The engineer simply cannot deny he did it.

3.10 Herbert Hoover, President and Engineer cntd.

• On the other hand, unlike the doctor, his, is not a life among the weak. Unlike the soldier, destruction is not his purpose. Unlike the lawyer, quarrels are not his daily bread. To the engineer falls the job of clothing the bare bones of science with life, comfort, and hope. No doubt as years go by the people forget which engineer did it, even if they ever knew. Or some politician puts his name on it. Or they credit it to some promoter who used other people's money ----- But the engineer himself looks back at the unending stream of goodness which flows from his successes

3.10 Herbert Hoover, President and Engineer cntd

4.0 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS :-

Codes of Ethics form the fundamental basis or difference between the profession and non-professional trades.

4.1 CODE OF ETHICS OF ENGINEERS :-

Engineers should uphold and advance the integrity, honour, and dignity of the engineering profession by:-• Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement

of human welfare• Being honest and impartial, and serving with

fidelity the public, their employers• Striving to increase the competence and prestige of

the engineering profession, and • Supporting the professional and technical societies

of their disciplines.

4.2 THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS :-

• Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.

• Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

• Act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and avoid conflicts of interest.

• Merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.

• Uphold and enhance the honour, integrity, and dignity of the profession.

• Continue their professional development throughout their careers.

4.2.1 ADVANTAGES OF A CODE OF ETHICS

• Provides explicit guidance to managers and employees.

• Provides new employees with ethical guidance and common identity

• Enhance the organization’s reputation and public confidence

• Signals to suppliers and customers the organization’s expectation of proper conduct

• Promotes a culture of excellence and commitment of the organization to ethical behavior.

4.2.2 DISADVANTAGES OF A CODE OF ETHICS

• A code can lead to cynicism • Organization may interpret the code differently• The code may raise public and employee

expectations • Implementing the code effectively will be

demanding of senior management time

5.0 KEEPING YOUR DIGNITY IN YOUR WORKPLACE

• Make the boss look good without making yourself invisible.

• Don’t be a whiner • Make sure working conditions are adequate• Don’t always follow the crowd • Don’t get a reputation as a party animal or a

buffoon• Avoid bringing personal problems to work • Curb your annoyance and control your emotions. • Be vigilant about harassment • Show your leadership strengths and creativity

6.0 STRENGTHENING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS THROUGH NSE and COREN

• The NSE established in 1958 and COREN established in 1970, mid wifed by NSE. COREN gives a stamp of authority to the wishes of the professional body (NSE).

• There is strong solidarity between their leaderships.• The Engineering profession is invaded by all sorts of

people because a large amount of the National budget is directed at engineering infrastructure and projects.

• The bigger quack is in fact the one who selects the quack in place of the professional.

• The question is how do you hold people accountable when they are not under your umbrella?

• The Disciplinary structure of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in particular, supported by COREN which is silent than public.

• NSE / COREN therefore need to overhaul her disciplinary tools for progress. The Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) which I midwifed in 1997 need to be overhauled to spot individuals and companies violating ethics.

The Sunday day Punch News Paper of May 18th 2014, page 2, refuted ethical violation or complaints against it, “We, Punch Nigeria Ltd, do not demand or accept gifts or gratifications to publish articles or photographs neither

do our journalists. Therefore, we implore you not to offer any to our Journalists”.

“We are guided by the principles of factual, balanced and fair reporting and commentaries. We believe that these

principles and ethical conduct are the basis of public trust and confidence. We believe that a system of self-

regulation, through a professional code of ethics under independent body would best serve the interest of the

profession and society. We subscribe to the Ombudsman mechanism established by the Newspaper Proprietors’

Association of Nigeria”

6.1

7.0 FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

• The Golden Rule

• You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you

• In the Christian faith, it is found entrenched in Mt.7:12

• Do not treat people in ways you would not wish to be treated yourself

• The Rotarian’s Four Way Test

7.0 FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE cntd.

• Is It the TRUTH?• It Is FAIR to all

concerned?• Will It Build Goodwill

and Better Friendship?• Will It Be BENEFICIAL

to all concerned?

7.0 FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE ctnd

• The Hippocratic Oath

• It dates back to the 5th Century BC (460BC to 377BC).

• “First, do no harm”• “share patients concern as

they would for their parents”.

• I still believe that the doctors in this country have been in the front running in sanitizing their profession through good ethical maintenance and practices

• St. Augustine’s admonition flowing from the Lord’s prayer “Our Father”.

7.0 FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE ctnd

• Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

• those who do not want to curse themselves should not say the Our Father prayer; they should first forgive their neighbour.

8.0 Local Contents and Integrity

• Need to get Local Content Law for Power Sector or Oil and Gas Sector

• Need to tell Nigerian professionals that Nigerian goods need to be patronized for our economy to grow

• Engineers in government should know that after their service, their next logical home is to take their port-manteu to their colleagues who many of them suppressed, deprived of their services or their fees. When one removes the ladder after climbing with it to the top, he would have to jump down on his way back if he has removed the ladder. The consequences are clear.

8.0 CONCLUSION

This short paper has examined • Professional relationships and dealt with the qualities

of a good professional with respect to ethics and dignity.

• link between the professional, his clients and his own colleagues with respect to ethics that bind them together

• Inadequate monitoring or failure in policing the implementation

• it would appear that the moral probity of the society we are in, has tended to erode the intentions and implementation of the ethics.

• The Golden Rule, The Rotary Four Way Test, Hippocratic Oath and St. Augustine’s admonition on forgiveness entrenched in the “Our Father

• Parents should pour it into the minds of their children as a way of improving societal moral values from infancy. There is urgent need for moral regeneration.

• The action taken by COREN in signing an MOU with ICPC is to be emulated by other Professional Institutions

8.0 CONCLUSION cntd

8.0 CONCLUSION cntd

• The paper recommends that the admission of new NSE members be carried out centrally with the necessary oaths just as the lawyers, clergy and doctors (medicine) as done by the three learned professions of old. Not only will this add dignity to Engineering but puts the new entrants on notice about their responsibilities to the profession, codes, ethics and Canons.

• For me, “Ethics” hinges on two giants in us, who are constantly fighting each other. These giants are the flesh and the spirit. The giant who wins is the one the person feeds more. Those who obey and take their ethics seriously nurse their spirits more than the flesh. A more-fed spirit than flesh, means less SIN, less tendency to sin and less violation of ethics.

Let the good overpower evil in our time so that we can uphold the dignity of the Engineering Profession

Let me conclude by quoting President Herbert Hoover again this time, on ethics and morality:- 

The imperative need of this nation at all times is the leadership of Uncommon Men or Women. 

No great question will ever be settled in dollars and cents. Great questions must be settled on moral grounds and

the tests of what makes free men. Truth alone can stand the guns of criticism. 

No public man can be just a little crooked. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and

dishonesty.

8.0 CONCLUSION cntd

REFERENCES 1. J.A. Jackson: Professions and Professionalization, Vol.3 Sociological

Studies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2010 pp.23 – 24.2. Wikipedia – the free Encyclopedia3. Professional Ethics are a must for Engineers – Deward Bowles – Land

Surveyors Industry Talk.4. Code of Ethics of Professional Land Surveyors – Washington 5. NIS Website6. NSE website7. COREN website8. Engineering Ethics – Nigeria Society of Engineers9. Good News Bible10.St. Augustine – My Confessions 11.Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualification (2005/36/EC) 12.Magali S. Larson: The Rise of Professionalism13.Chima Ogba: Building, Moral Foundation for Ethical Professional

Practice: The Nigeria Experience.14.Sunday Punch Newspaper 18th May 2014. 15.Quotes from Herbert Hoover 31st President of USA 16.Quotes from President William Bill J Clinton

THANK YOU!!!