Estate surveyors back Senate on CCB Act amendment

Ahead of the amendment to the Act that established the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal, estate surveyors have thrown its weight behind the proposed tinkering with the law in order to guarantee its independence.

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) however, urged the Senate to make it mandatory that assets declaration must be accompanied with a valuation certificate signed by a registered estate Surveyor and valuer to guard against under-declaration or anticipatory declaration.

NIESV made the submission at the 46th conference in Abuja, which was declared open by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He lamented that the real estate sector in the country is ridden with cases of inflation of values in rent, over-priced land, lack of integrity and other forms of corruption.

Saraki called on the surveyors to develop effective strategies that would cleanse the industry and also establish a high reputable standard of professionalism in the conduct and practice in the land administration in the country.

The Senate President noted that increasing demand for urban development infrastructure has compelled some state governments to conceptualise ways of increasing the internally generated revenue through property tax, adding that various stakeholders have criticised the imposition of such taxes ”.

Represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Barnabas Gemade, the Senate President noted that the conference serves as a veritable opportunity for NIESV to partner with the new administration to deliver on set goals that would significantly improve welfare and living standard of the people.

Also speaking, Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Development, Babatunde Fashola represented by his Special Adviser Biodun Oki, observed that Nigeria is faced with a housing deficit which must be reduced using a clear plan which government is already working on.

He noted that government alone cannot provide all the houses needed by Nigerians adding that in tackling the housing deficit, the issue of housing ownership and rental strategy must be addressed in detail.

The minister appealed to the Estate Surveyors to find a way of making housing accommodation more affordable and also consider weekly or monthly rent payment instead of 1year rent currently in practice.

NIESV President, Olorogun James Omeru advocated for the establishment of a National Property Management Agency to manage properties confiscated from confirmed treasury looters.