Association Blames Contractors for Building Collapse in Nigeria

The Builder, Construction and Skilled Artisans Association of Nigeria (BACSAAN) has attributed selfishness of contractors as major factor responsible for building collapse in Nigeria.
Members of BACSAAN comprises bricklayers, carpenters, welders, plumbers, tilers, Aluminium, block makers among others.
The National President of BACSAAN, Alhaji Fasasi Muhammad-Jamiu stated this on Sunday during the South West meeting of the association in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Muhammed-Jamiu said, some contractors intentionally provide substandard building materials for use at building sites in order to make more profit.
“The selfish interest of some contractors is responsible for collapsed buildings in Nigeria. We are the ones using the materials and we know materials that are of good quality. A lot of these contractors bring inferior materials to the site and if we refuse to use them, they will not give us the work again and give them to other people who will collect the job because of hunger. If the Federal Government mandates the association to monitor building materials at sites in Nigeria, we will make sure building collapse is reduced or eradicated in Nigeria”.
The national president further said artisans employed by contractors were often overworked and not even paid amounts commensurate to the work done.
Further, he said the contractors make a lot of money to the detriment of artisans, resulting to suffering and financial challenges of members of the association who are used as slaves in making the profit.
Also speaking, the National Secretary of the association, Jubril Are, said though not all members of the association had formal education, but the fact was that members learnt on the job and were quite competent.
“What we are trying to do now is, we are training and retraining our people and we want government to give us land or a place we can use as vocational school and then you recruit those you want for any project. If the government gives us contract, we can do it. Just test us and give it to us and let the so-called professionals come and check if we have not done an excellent job. Artisans are the ones working, but some people are taking the credit. We want our people to work, gain and improve themselves; educationally, we are training them”.
In his contribution, the Oyo State Coordinator of the association , Alhaji Sabitu Salawu, urged members to be patient, saying the leaders of the association had sought the support of government to come to their aid.
“My advise to our members is for them to be patient, we are trying to talk to the government for them to come to our aid, not by giving us money but jobs. Very soon Oyo state government will start building and the artisans in the state will gain from it. The government will use them for the job”.