Government wades into ARCON, NIA professional exam dispute

Obviously perturbed by the simmering crisis rocking Nigerian architecture family, the Federal Government has directed members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), to toe the line of peace and ensure the profession is lifted and not fragmented.

The government made its position known recently when the executive members of NIA paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Housing, Land and Power, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, in Abuja.

Fashola, who was said to have frowned at series of altercation between NIA and its regulatory body, the Architects Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), specifically told NIA members to sheath the sword and ensure it complies with ARCON, as stipulated by the law guiding the profession.

A source, who prefers anonymity close to the government hinted that the Minister, who did not hide his feelings over the issue, said that it was wrong for any of the party to be making provocative statements against each other.

Believing that misgivings were issues resolvable, told the NIA executives to close the ranks with its regulatory body.All has not be well within the fold since the current NIA executive led by Mr. Tonye Braide, dissolved the education board, a development, ARCON insists did not follow due process and was done to favour a few loyalists, who do not meet the criteria for occupying such position.

While that lasted, the NIA informed ARCON of its intention to conduct the professional exams but ARCON declined, on the ground that, there was not education board in place and therefore, no examination could be conducted.

Considered ARCON’s position to be faulty and adverse to the extant law, as well as, the development of the profession, NIA went ahead to conduct the exams. Then, it published names of successful candidates.

But soon after the examination, ARCON said it does not authorise the examination and as such it would not recognise same, having earlier directed that the exercise should not be conducted abinitio. However, ARCON, in a recent release has said that, notwithstanding, the lacuna, has said it would find a way to amicably resolve the imbroglio.

According to its bulletin, ARCON said: “ The NIA Education Board has not been duly reconstituted by the NIA Council and the September PPE examinations have been conducted by an unapproved selection of architects, some of whom are freshly admitted members of NIA, who have not met the requirements for this assignment.

“The September PPE Examinations, therefore, have not been conducted by a properly constituted Education Board and are not acceptable qualifications for registration with ARCON.

“The Council is working out the modalities on how it can register such candidates with minimum inconvenience in consideration of the fact that this situation is not the fault of the candidates who participated in the examinations.

“Council wishes to note that henceforth, anyone who wishes to be registered to practice architecture in Nigeria must ascertain that:
“The Architecture Programme of the University or Polytechnic attended is approved by ARCON.

“Any post-graduation programme, workshop or seminar preparatory to PPE Examinations that would qualify them for registration by ARCON at any level and organised by any organisation or professional body, receives the written approval of ARCON. It shall be the responsibility of the individual candidate to obtain such written authentication from the Registrar of ARCON.

It is worthy of note that, while some see the unfolding scenario as a way to regulate and ensure quality, others say it is a show of might between ARCON and NIA.

Besides, unidentified individuals have taken their grievances to the public space, alleging bias and unfairness on the side of ARCON. Some, who do not wish to be named have also dissociated themselves from the publications, adding that, they were ready to abide by the decision of architects’ regulatory body.

Only few days ago, under the aegis of concerned candidates, there was a publication in a national daily, not The Guardian, where it was requested that the Minister should intervene and safe the profession from total collapse and precipice.

In his reaction, NIA President, Mr. Tonye Braidem he did know the basis for ARCON’s stance on the matter, saying the examination was validly conducted.

According to him, some people were arrogating to themselves, power they do not possess, arguing that, NIA was set to uphold the rules and at the same time increasing the numbers of registered architects without compromising the standard.Reacting, a senior member of ARCON said the body that conducted the exams was not validly constituted, and that all efforts to amicably resolve the issue have been repelled by the institute.