‘Investiture of new surveyors illegal’
The registrar of SURCON, Winston Ayeni summoned council meeting on January 15, 2015 where new surveyors were inducted.But the president of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Bern Omo Akhigbe who addressed journalists in Abuja last Friday said the sixth council’s tenure expired since Oct. 10, 2014, therefore, it had no powers to meet and […]
The registrar of SURCON, Winston Ayeni summoned council meeting on January 15, 2015 where new surveyors were inducted.
But the president of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Bern Omo Akhigbe who addressed journalists in Abuja last Friday said the sixth council’s tenure expired since Oct. 10, 2014, therefore, it had no powers to meet and bring on board fresh surveyors.
Akhigbe said when he got wind of plans to hold council meeting, he wrote Ayeni warning him not to do it because he lacked powers to convene the meeting.
He said because court workers are on strike, injunction could not be secured against the meeting.
He said publications were however made in national newspapers stating NIS’ position on the matter.
“The registrar is acting wrongly. Council was dissolved Oct. 10, 2014. The president [of Nigeria] is yet to constitute one,” he explained, stressing that a list of 12 members has since been given to the president to constitute a new council.
He stated, “It’s therefore shocking that in spite of all this, the registrar, Surv. Winston Ayeni went ahead to summon and presided over an illegal council meeting and thereafter held an investiture ceremony for new surveyors.
“And what’s worse the registrar, Surv. Winston Ayeni’s tenure was unilaterally extended by six months.
“The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors views this flagrant abuse of power with all seriousness.”
Akhigbe who described the registrar’s action as usurpation of council’s powers maintained that his profession is governed by law therefore what Ayeni did can lead to chaos and damage the profession.
“I don’t want this profession to be rubbished. What they did is a nullity,” he concluded.