Schedule, Council Act, 2022

PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT A professional engineer shall be guilty of professional misconduct if he - 1. allows any other person to practise under his name as a professional engineer unless that person is a registered professional engineer and is in partnership with, or is employed by that professional engineer; 2. holds, assumes or consciously accepts a position in which his personal interest conflicts with his professional duties; 3. accepts remuneration other than professional fees or salary payable by his employer from any source in connection with the works and duties entrusted to him; 4. accepts work involving the giving or receiving of discount or commissions or accepts discount, gift or commission from a contractor or tradesman whether employed in his works or not; 5. accepts remuneration other than professional fees, salary or royalty for acting as an engineering consultant or assistant to an engineering consultant, or solicits orders for a contractor, manufacturer, development firm or company whose activities are otherwise not connected with engineering; 6. allows his name to be affixed to the notepaper of a firm or company whose activities are otherwise connected with engineering for a third party to whom his principal owes a contractual duty, unless all the parties agree that he may act as an independent professional engineer on the direct instructions of the third party as long as he receives payment of his fees direct from the third party; 7. advertise or offers his professional services to a person or body corporate by means of circulars or otherwise or make commercial announcements in the press, except when- (a) applying to prospective employers for a salaried appointment; No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022 5. (1) The Council shall meet for the dispatch of its business at least once every 2 months and at such time as the Chairman may determine. (2) The Chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Council and in his absence, the members present shall appoint a member from among themselves to preside at that meeting. (3) A minimum of 5 members of the Council may, by notice in writing signed by them, request the Chairman to summon a special meeting of the Council for such purposes as may be stated in the notice. (4) The Chairman or, in his absence, the member appointed to act in his behalf shall summon a special meeting within 3 days of his receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (3). (5) The quorum at any meeting of the Council shall be 7. (6) The Chairman or in his absence, the person presiding, shall have a casting vote where there is an equality of votes. (7) A proposal circulated among all members and agreed to in writing by a two-thirds majority of all members shall be of the same force or effect as a decision made at a duly constituted meeting of the Board and shall be incorporated in the minutes of the next succeeding meeting of the Council; Provided that, if a member requires that such proposal be placed before a meeting of the Council, this subsection shall not apply to such proposal. (8) The Council may co-opt any person to attend and participate in its deliberations on any matter but such person shall not vote on any issue for the decision by the Council. (9) The Council shall cause minutes of all its meetings to be taken and signed by the Chairman and kept in proper form. Meetings of (2) The High Court may, upon such appeal, confirm, revoke or vary the decision appealed against and upon such terms and conditions as it may think fit. (3) Every appeal under this section shall be made within one month from the date of the decision of the Council. (4) The Council shall not execute any punishment in accordance with its decision until the appeal has been heard or it is certain that no such appeal has been lodged. PART– IX OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 27. A person who, not being a registered professional engineer, under this act - (a) carries on business as a professional engineer in Sierra Leone; (b) uses or causes or permits to be used together with the name under which he carries on business, the words "professional engineer" or "engineer' or any words, initials or abbreviations, or words intended to cause or which may reasonably cause any person to believe that that person is a professional engineer registered under this Act, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than 20 million Leones or to a term of imprisonment not less than 3 years or to both such fine and term of imprisonment. 28. A registered professional engineer who practises as a professional engineer without a valid annual practicing certificate issuedunder section 22 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 5 million leones. PART - X MISCELLANEOUS 29. The Minister may upon the recommendation of the Council make regulations in respect of any matter relating to or connected with the functions of the Council under this Act, or the proper exercise, discharge or performance thereof. 30. The Professional Engineers´ Act, 1990 is hereby repealed. Fraud on the title of engineer. Practicing without valid practicing certificate. Regulations. Repeal of Act No. 3 of 1990. No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022 (10) Subject to this Act, the Council shall regulate the procedure of its meetings. 6. (1) The Council may, for the discharge of its functions, appoint one or more committees comprising members of the Council or non-members or both to perform such functions as the Council may determine. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Council shall appoint a Disciplinary Committee for the purpose of holding inquiry into the conduct of professional engineers and institutions registered under this Act, consisting of the Chairman of the Council and such other members and performing such functions as the Council may determine. 7. (1) A member of the Council who has any interest, whether direct or indirect in any matter being considered or to be considered by the Council, shall disclose the nature of his interest to the Council and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council and such member shall not take part in any deliberation or decision of the Council relating to that matter. (2) A member of the Council who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of misconduct and shall be removed from the 8. (1) Action or other proceedings shall not lie or be instituted against any member of the Council in respect of any act or thing done in good faith or omitted to be done in the exercise of his functions under this Act. (2) A member of the Council shall not be personally liable for any debt or obligation of the Council. 9. (1) Where the Chairman or a member of the Council dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent for a continuous period exceeding 3 months or is by reason of illness unable to perform the functions of his office for a continuous period of 3 months, the members of the Council shall, in the case of - Committees Disclosure of interest. Immunity of members. Filling of vacancies. PART –VIII DISCIPLINE 25. (1) The Disciplinary Committee appointed by the Council under subsection (2) of section 6 shall inquire into complaints made against a professional engineer or an engineering institution in respect of an act of a professional engineer or engineering institution that constitutes professional misconduct as specified in the Schedule. (2) The Disciplinary Committee shall, in the adjudication of complaints made against a professional engineer or an engineering institution, have the power of the High Court to- (a) issue a summons to a professional engineer or engineering institution against whom or which a complaint has been made, to appear before it; (b) subpoena a person to attend a hearing of the Committee, to give evidence and to be examined as a witness. (3) Where a person fails to appear before a disciplinary Committee after a summons has been issued twice for his appearance, the disciplinary Committee shall proceed with the matter as if the person or institution is before it. (4) After inquiring into a complaint, the Disciplinary Committee shall submit its report containing its recommendations to the Council. (5) Where the Council is satisfied that a case has been established against a professional engineer or an engineering institution, it may order that- (a) the name of the professional engineer or engineering institution be struck off the Register of Professional Engineers on grounds of professional misconduct; (b) the registration of a professional engineer or an engineering institution from membership of the Council for a period specified in the order. 26. (1) A person aggrieved by a decision of the Council under subsection (5) of section 25 may appeal to the High Court against such decision. Investigation o f complaints. Appeal No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022 17 (i) fully registered professional engineers - being citizens of Sierra Leone, practicing for a period exceeding 90 consecutive days in any one year; (ii) conditionally registered professional engineers- being citizens of Sierra Leone, who hold technicians and technological qualifications or other basic engineering approved by the Council and work under the direct supervision of a registered professional engineer; (iii) temporarily registered professional engineers- being non-citizens or visiting professionals who hold a work permit or are exempted from holding work permit under the laws of Sierra Leone. 24. (1) The Executive Secretary shall remove from a register the name and other particulars of a professional engineer or engineering institution - (a) who has died, in the case of a natural person or ceased to exist, in the case of an engineering institution; (b) who is of unsound mind or is otherwise incapable of discharging his duties; (c) who has not applied for a renewal practising certificate for a lapse of 3 years continuously; and (d) whose name has been ordered to be struck off the register under paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 25. (2) The Executive Secretary shall, where a name is removed under paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) notify the registered professional engineer or engineering institution of the removal. Removal of name from register. (a) the Chairman, elect 1 of their number to act as Chairman until such time as the Chairman resumes his office or another is appointed in his position; and (b) a member, the Chairman shall arrange, subject to this Act, to have another person appointed to the Council. (2) Where a person is appointed as Chairman or appointed as a member to fill a vacancy, he shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the previous Chairman or member, as the case may be, and shall, subject to this Act, be eligible for reappointment. PART III–FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL 10. (1) The Council shall be responsible to regulate professional engineers and the practice of professional engineering in Sierra Leone. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Council shall have the following functions- (a) register professional engineers and engineering institutions in Sierra Leone; (b) issue practising certificates to registered professional engineers and institutions; (c) recommend courses of study and the conduct and standards of qualifying examinations for universities and tertiary institutions; (d) organize or cause to be organized training programmes, lectures, seminars or conferences of professional engineers; Functions of No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022 (e) determine and regulate the standards of practice, competence, conduct, and ethics of registered professional engineers and monitor compliance thereto; (f) prescribe professional fees based on qualification and experience subject to the approval of the Minister; (g) issue accreditation to practicing facilities; (h) publish annual list of professional engineers; (i) make regulations for all or any of the following purposes- (i) the scale of fees to be charged by professional engineers and engineering institutions for professional advice and services; (ii) the fees to be paid for registration and the annual renewal of registration under this Act; (iii) prescribing the procedure to be followed by persons applying for registration as Professional Engineers and engineering institutions; (j) advise the Minister on any matter relating to the engineering profession; and (k) perform such other functions as are conducive to the objects of the Council. Provided that the certificate shall cease to be valid where, during the period of validity of the certificate, the person to whom it is issued ceases to be registered under this Act or the registration of that person is suspended. PART VII - REGISTERS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS. 23. (1) The Executive Secretary shall establish and maintain the following registers of professional engineers and engineering institutions which shall consist of - (a) The Register of Professional Engineers; (b) The Register of Engineering Consulting firms; (c The Register of Premier Class and Class 1 Engineering Companies; (d) The Register of Engineering Corporate Bodies and Institutions; (e) any other register of professional engineers or engineering body or institution approved by the Council. (2) A register established and maintained under subsection (1) shall be in both physical and electronic form and shall - (a) contain the name and other particulars of registered professional engineers, professional engineering corporate bodies or institutions; and (b) indicate whether registered professional engineers are- Registers of engineers and institutions. No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022 PART IV–ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 11. (I) There shall be an Executive Secretary appointed by the Council from among the registered professional engineers with the requisite qualifications, seniority and experience as may be required. (2) The Executive Secretary shall be responsible to the Council for the performance of the following functions- (a) provide overall leadership in the administration of the Council, including the supervision of the finances of the Council; (b) establish and maintain registers of professional engineers and engineering institutions specified under this Act or as may be approved by the Council; (c) serve as Secretary to the Council and for every meeting of the Council, keep minutes of proceedings of the meeting; and (d) execute all decisions of the Council and carry out such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Council. 12. (1) The Council shall have in addition to the Executive Secretary, a secretariat consisting of a finance officer, administrative officer and such other additional staff as may be required for the efficient functioning of the Council. (2) The other staff of the Council shall be appointed by the Executive Secretary subject to the approval of the Council and shall hold office on such terms and conditions as the Council may determine. Executive Secretary. Other staff (c) adjudged to be insolvent or a bankrupt and has not been certified, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that his insolvency or bankruptcy has arisen wholly or partly from unavoidable losses or misfortunes. 21. (1) Notwithstanding section 18, a registered professional engineer shall not practice as a professional engineer or establish or operate an engineering institution in Sierra Leone unless on the authority of a practicing certificate issued by the Council for that purpose. (2) An engineering firm, Premier Class and class 1 construction company or institution engage in engineering services, whether local or foreign, shall first be verified and registered by the Council before registration or renewal of certification with the Ministry. 22. (1) An application for a practicing certificate to practise as a professional engineer or establish or operate an engineering institution in Sierra Leone shall be made to the Council, accompanied by the fee, in such form as may be prescribed. (2) Where the Council approves an application under subsection (1) the Executive Secretary shall issue a practicing certificate to the applicant in such form as the Council may prescribe and make an entry in the appropriate register. (3) Where the Council refuses an application under subsection (1), the Executive Secretary shall notify the applicant of the decision of the Council. (4) A practicing certificate issued under subsection (2) shall be valid until the 31st day of December of the year in which it is issued and shall be renewed annually subject to the payment of such renewal fee as the Council may prescribe; Requirement to practice as engineer or operate an Application for practising certificate. No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022No. 9 The Professional Engineering Regulatory Council Act 2022