Estate surveyors seek Executive Order 11 implementation

The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called for the implementation of the Executive Order 11, which was signed into law early this month by President Muhammadu Buhari.

NIESV President, Sir Emmanuel Wike, said the implementation of the order would give a facelift to public buildings across the country.

Wike, who stated this in Port Harcourt during a meeting with members of the Council, noted that building maintenance, which is an important aspect of building management is often neglected.

The Order gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy and mandates the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to establish a department of federal public assets maintenance.

He said: “With institutionalisation of maintenance culture, buildings would retain its economic life, there would be lower depreciation cost and consequently, there would be higher productivity and profitability. In other words, proper maintenance would ensure lower expenditures on replacement and would allow more expenditure or funds for incursion into new productive ventures and investment.

“As a dependable partner with the Federal and State Governments for about 53 years of our existence in policy formulation, land administration, infrastructure and facility management for public and private assets, property management, housing and project development, NIESV fully unprecedented approach to maintenance in the history of our country.”

Wike declared that the institution is ready to partner with government in the implementation of the policy.
According to him, “Estate surveyors and valuers are trained to undertake property and facilities managements of all assets in the best global practices and in strict compliance to our code of professional ethics”.

NIESV, however, urged members to key into this government initiative and offer the best professional services in the interest of the country and our noble profession. He noted that the Rivers State branch of NIESV is gathering housing data in the city of Port Harcourt, which will be useful to government in the area of taxation, urban planning and prompt response, adding that the document will also be useful to security operatives.

“We have just concluded a critical analysis of the remote and immediate causes of land conflicts in Rivers State, and will soon present our findings and suggested solutions to the government for implementation. We believe that easy or unhindered access to land is a major incentive to investment in any state.

“As part of our efforts in growing the economy of the state, the Rivers State branch of the institution will be hosting the 52nd Annual Conference of our institution in Port Harcourt. The branch will play host to more than 5,000 estate surveyors and valuers from all over of the country.

He noted that the state branch has a good relationship with the Rivers State government, disclosing that the government has been engaging its members for professional services.

“The Lands Department of the State Ministry of Lands and Survey for example, has many of our members in its employ, with a number of us in leadership positions.

Wike reassured the state government of its continued partnership in land administration, management, assets valuation for all purposes, property rating and taxation, management of public facilities for efficiency, enumeration and assessment of taxable properties in Rivers State for improved revenue generation and in all its developmental efforts.

“We would continue to offer the government and the good people of Rivers State our professional services in the best global practices, and in line with our Code of Professional Ethics,” he added.