Not because I treasure the society. I haven’t been given a reason
to.
I wanted to register as a professional engineer in 2016. But I
kept postponing this. I took the plunge in 2017 at Akure.
I visited the website (www.coren.gov.ng) when and found out that I
needed to a professional society number. The Nigerian Society of Engineers for
my category. I visited the NSE website (www.nse.org.ng) and found out that they accepted people
twice a year. February and July. I took the plunge.
I had a sail through with the online registration. My category
(B1) – having a bachelor’s degree with a minimum four years’ experience would
pay 20,000 Naira for the application. I did with my Gtbank debit card. I filled
an online form and uploaded the required documents except for two documents.
The documents were to be signed by a branch Chairman (the state where I
was located) and a Division chairman (the type of engineering)
The branch Chairman said he would not sign till I paid some money
to the NSE Office. I was given a list.
1. Refresher course -15,000 Naira
2. Developmental levy - 10,000 Naira
3. Annual due - 6,000 Naira
4. Admin charges - 5,000 Naira
5. Divisional due - 5,000 Naira.
I would ordinarily have paid without questioning but two things
were on my mind.
1 1. Why didn’t you put this
online?
2 2. Annual due/Divisional
Due/Developmental Levy should be for Insiders, not applicants.
I get the fact that the Society needs money. But there are other
ways to get this.
I informed the branch chairman that I would come back. I tried to
get in touch with the Abuja office but they gave no response.
I chose to pay in two installments. And then he offered to sign
after making the first payment.
I was told I would have to pay between 53,000 – 56,000 Naira for
the certificate.
Wow. All for registering with COREN.
Update
Today is the 11th of January,
2017. I should say a 'happy new year' but let's keep that down. I wrote a
professional exam (NSE) in September/October and had an interview with a panel
of engineers (the interview came first). I was successful.
I was then told to pick a
letter at the NSE Akure office. The letter was to tell me the amount I would
pay exactly. The shock was when I was told I would pay 5,000 Naira for the
letter. Administrative fees, the secretary called it. I have to pay for a
letter asking me to pay? Whew! you guys just don't get it? or Am I the one that
doesn't get it?
I found out I would pay 56,300
Naira for the items below;
1.
Current
Subscription – 7,000
2. Transfer/Enrolment fee - 1,500
3. Benevolent Fund – 1,000
4. Membership Materials – 5,800
5. International Levy – 1,000
6. Abuja NEC & Building Levy – 15,000
7. Special levy (NEC Phase 2) – 25,000
This was not going to stop the COREN registration. I paid.
I was also informed that there would be an Induction. And …….I
would have to pay 5,000 Naira.
What? For what again. Why didn’t you say this earlier?
Then, I decided to have a seat and talk about it. The society is
bad at communication. We have the tag ‘Engineers’ but we seem not to be solving
any problems. Why not have a website that details all the payments required or
have a flyer that states all these rather than dishing it out one step at a
time like you have a rope tied around my neck and I have to move at your every
call.
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