Tragic Beginning
Let me commence this letter by thanking all members of the surveying community in Nigeria for standing by the Council in its darkest hour following the death while on official trip to Abuja, of the Council President, Surv. Prof. Romanus Nnubia Asoegwu, fnis. Coming barely four months into his second term as Council President, his death was tragic, destabilizing and most unfortunate. What a great loss to a cool-headed, humble, compassionate and quiet motivator who was a stabilizing force in the profession! May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace (amen). As for those who tried to profit from his death, the advice I have for them is in the following quotation of an un-named emperor “Be careful what you plant now. It will determine what you will reap tomorrow. The seeds you now scatter will make life worse or better your life or the ones who will come after. Yes, someday you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you plant today” end of quote.
Un-clear SURCON Seals
Many reports have been lodged with SURCON albeit informally, that some surveyors’ seals affixed on plans and other documents are very faint and un-clear. Some documents sent to the Secretariat also confirm the poor state of some seals. Those concerned are advised to contact the secretariat for assistance and if necessary, replacement. Surveyors are reminded that it is an offence to reproduce the Council’s seal illegally (please see section 12 of the Rules and Regulations for the Control of Survey Practice and Disciplinary Procedures). It is our collective responsibility to uphold the integrity of the profession by sticking to its ethics.
Refusal to Read Letters
It has been established that members of the surveying community in Nigeria hardly read documents sent to them. This probably explains why some private practitioners claim ignorance of the Enlistment of Survey Companies with SURCON. There is no doubt that some of us may not be in support of the Council on this matter but that is not to say the regulation is non-existent. A bad law or regulation remains the law or regulation for as long as it subsists and should be obeyed. In any case, the ultimate aim of the regulation is to ensure that all survey works in Nigeria are carried out by companies that have Nigerian surveyors on board in one capacity or the other. The complaint by some surveyors that the renewal fee is too high has received the attention of Council. The newly approved renewal fee is ₦2,000 and the new dispensation becomes operative in the new year. Timely renewal for the purpose of meeting the Council’s publication ends on 31st March each year.
Logbook For Pupil Surveyors
Refusal to read letters also explains why some Pupil Surveyors, Supervisors and even SURCON State Committees on Ethics (SSCEs) claim ignorance of the existence of Logbooks for monitoring Pupil Surveyors’ activities during pupilage. The introduction of the Logbook is to ensure that projects submitted during professional examinations are not recycled projects but those actually executed by the Pupil Surveyors. All those concerned – SSCEs, Pupil Surveyors and their Supervisors are PLEASE enjoined to cooperate for the sake of the profession.
For the purpose of emphasis, all concerned are please enjoined to read the duties spelt out in the logbook, for candidates, their supervisors and even the SSCEs. It is in the interest of the profession and its practitioners for all of us to comply with the provisions of the logbook.
Pupil Surveyors who do not submit their logbooks for the current year by Friday 16th January 2009 stand the risk of being barred from taking the professional examinations. Please, do not say you are un-informed because you have been forewarned.
Completion Of Relevant Sections Of Forms Filled/Signed
Some of us have been very carefree and perfunctory in the way we fill forms that are sent to the Secretariat. In the process, we supply conflicting information which can be used against us. In other instances, we delay the processing of the documents which are sent to the secretariat thus leaving our wards with the short end of the stick. As exact professionals, we must go the extra mile by reading over all documents that we append our signatures to so that at any point in time, we stand no risk of avoidable embarrassment.
Sloppiness?............Apologies
As human beings, we at the secretariat are imperfect and must have made some mistakes while discharging our duties to members of the Surveying community in Nigeria. We humbly submit that these are genuine mistakes and not any deliberate attempt to embarrass anyone. I therefore apologise on behalf of all of us in the secretariat, for whatever lapses may have been observed. We lay no claims to perfection or infallibility. Suggestions are however welcome on ways to improve on what we have in place while we continue to strive for improvement in the services we render to the profession and its practitioners.
Movement to the FCT, Abuja.
The movement to the Federal Capital has become real, thanks to the understanding of the late President and most members of Council. The Council had lost a lot of opportunities by staying away from the seat of power. It is hoped that the Council, the profession and its practitioners will be better off for this movement to Abuja. The operations of the secretariat should commence from Abuja on a skeletal note very soon. While Abuja gradually assumes centre stage in the Council’s operations, the Lagos office will continue to function effectively as before though as a zonal office. The Abuja address as seen above, is:
SURVEYORS COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (SURCON),10 YAWURI STREET, OFF JERE STREET,
GARKI 2, ABUJA
P. M. B. 426, GARKI. ABUJA.
Payment of Practice Fees
Some Surveyors had experienced avoidable embarrassments in the past because even when they pay early, their names are left out of the list of Surveyors published as being entitled to practise! This is not the time to trade blames but to appeal for understanding by all while all concerned should play their parts well. Chairmen of SSCEs are please urged to endeavour to send the names of surveyors who pay through them to the secretariat once payments are made. The monetary aspect could be sorted out later.
Cooperation and Progress
There cannot be any progress without cooperation from all. Let me thus seize this opportunity to thank all members of the surveying community in Nigeria for their individual and collective cooperation while I headed the secretariat of the Council as Registrar. As I bow out of office after the induction of new surveyors in January 2009, I appeal that you not only continue the level of cooperation but to improve on it with the new leadership of the Council’s secretariat. It is in doing this that we can collectively move our profession and the fortunes of all of us (the practitioners) forward.
Thank you, God bless you and members of your family real good.
Have a wonderful and divinely blessed 2009.
Yours faithfully
SURV. PRINCE AFOLABI O. SOLESI, fnis
Registrar.
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