Surveyor seeks National Mapping Commission, review of survey laws

A past president of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Dr. Bosun Ayinde, has called for the review of the agenda of the body to ensure benefit to the profession and practitioners.

The institution’s agenda put in place in 1966 includes seeking amendment of the survey laws with regard to membership of Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) in line with present-day realities; setting up of a National Mapping Commission to oversee the adoption of surveying, and mapping policy and mapping the entire country systematically.

It also includes extracting surveying and mapping content from turnkey contracts to be executed by only Nigerian nationals and registered surveyors.

Ayinde, who was the guest speaker at the New Fellow Welcome, organised by the Lagos State Body of Fellows (BoF) of NIS, lamented that the agenda for which all presidents strive to pursue have been abandoned over the years and called on the institution to revisit and pursue them to a logical conclusion.

“In the last 56 years, the body successfully achieved, and produced surveyors in quantity and quality to meet surveying and mapping needs of the nation, hence, the pursuit of SURCON in recent years.

“The attempt of the BoF during my tenure as chairman to initiate a blueprint towards resuscitating the agenda collapsed because succeeding administration deviated from following through with the blueprint,” he said.

Bosun counselled new fellows to hold on tenaciously to the values of being a surveyor and the values of being a fellow. “Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide our attitudes and motivate our actions. They help us determine what is important to us as individuals, as surveyors, especially as fellows of the institution,” he said.

He listed the core values of the institution as selflessness, sacrifice, accountability, honesty, integrity, mutual respect, professionalism, excellence, tradition and decorum. “These values are either eroded, degraded or no longer exist. Otherwise, how can you explain that past presidents are booed for expressing their views or restating what the institution stands for; how do you explain why officers break the terms of our constitution with impunity? Bosun said.

He recalled the words of NIS Vice President International, Olumide Adewebi, “We have the opportunity to change the horizon. We are obligated to be leaders. The ones who seize the opportunity to be mentors to the next generation. The ones who elevate the profession through our vision.

“Fellowship is conferred upon those among us who have dedicated their careers to this mission. . . to support the growth of the future generation and the institution, both financially and through the donation of our time and expertise.”

Bosun said: “As elders of the profession, therefore, leaders, you must realise that there are limits beyond which one should not go, a line you must not cross no matter how highly privileged one is. One cannot exercise power beyond the authority conferred on one’s office or position.

“This is why you must study and understand the constitution of the institution and the instrument that sets up the BoF under the present dispensation. You must study these documents along with the bylaws not only to guide your conduct but more importantly to call others to order when they tend to overstep their bounds.”

Earlier, the Board Chairman, Dr. Olusola Atilola, urged the new fellows to always fulfil their obligation to the body and institution.