bofm17nov16

BOF

Meeting

Board of Fellows
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors

17th November 2016

Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja

BOF Meeting

Board of Fellows
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
17th November 2016

Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja

BOF
Meeting Details

Venue of the Board of Fellows Meeting on the 17th Nov. 2016

Kanem Suites 475 Ajose Adeogun St, Abuja

Please be seated by 9.45am

BOF Meeting

Board of Fellows
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
17th November 2016

Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja

Agenda
& Minutes

30, Williams Crecent, Off Anthony Enahoro St., Off Okonjo Iweala Way, Utako, Abuja -
Nigeria

Tel: +234 803 300 7837

Minutes of Meeting
and Agenda

17th November 2016

BOARD OF FELLOWS, NIGERIAN INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS
GENERAL MEETING/FELLOWS’ LUNCHEON - 17TH NOVEMBER, 2016

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer
2. National Anthem & National Pledge
3. Introductions and Apologies
4. Minutes of the last meeting
5. Presentations

a. Membership Register/Audit [percentage of NIS Corporate Membership]
b. Membership list by State according to year of induction
c. Distribution of Members across States of the Federation
d. Logo
e. Creed
f. Mission Statement
g. Website
6. Report from the Secretariat
a. BoF account
b. State Branches’ Body of Fellows
c. Attendance in the preceding 5 years (under 70) and its implication
d. Reflections

*NIS/SURCON (PP Kukoyi’s 1981 Address)
7. Committees of the Board [Chairmen and Members] (Induction during luncheon)
8. Address of the BoF Chairman
9. Discussion of Chairman’s Address
10. Closing

Other Activities of the Day

#INDUCTION OF CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
*Committee Chairmen to be sworn in
*Committee Chairmen to swear in other members

- Screening
- Welfare
- Finance and All Purpose
- Honours

#SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS IN 2017

#PROVISIONAL BUDGET

BOARD OF FELLOWS, NIGERIAN INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF FELLOWS HELD AFTER THE ELECTION OF THE
PIONEER EXECUTIVE AT THE AGM CONFERENCE CENTRE, OSHOGBO ON TUESDAY 24TH MAY, 2016

1.0 ATTENDANCE

As may have been compiled by the NIS Secretariat

2.0 COMMENCEMENT

The meeting started with a speech by (then) President Akhigbe in which he recalled that the
Institution’s new constitution has approved an independent Board of Fellows which is to be
run by its elected officials rather than the former practice where the President was the
Chairman of the Board.

After the President’s speech, the following Fellows were elected into the offices against which
their names are written:

Surv. Rev. Dr. Bosun Ayinde, ppnis - Chairman

Surv. Chief Clement Nwabichie - Vice Chairman

Surv. Prince Afolabi Solesi - Secretary

Surv. Pastor Mrs. Felicia Omatsola - Treasurer

Surv. Chief Joe Anosikeh - Financial Secretary

Surv. Alhaji Nasir Umar - Welfare Officer

Surv. Akin Oyegbola - Ex-Officio (As Deputy President)

*Surv. Alabo C. D. Charles has since replaced Surv. Akin Oyegbola

After the elections, the officers were inaugurated and the Board Chairman gave a small
acceptance speech.

In his speech, he thanked the Institution’s Fellows for electing the maiden Executive of the
independent Board of Fellows. He said that although he left office as NIS President 18 years
earlier, there were two senior Past Presidents at the meeting that he expected would be
elected as the Pioneer Chairman of the Board. He thanked both of them, Surv. S. J. Ojeikere
and Emeritus Prof. F. A. Fajemirokun, for conceding the Chairmanship of the Board to him.

He informed the meeting that the idea of an independent Executive for the Board was not
new as late Past President Kukoyi had suggested it in the past although many thought it was
a ploy to recycle Past Presidents. He observed that with the progressive development of the
NIS, the decision was right. He pledged that the Executive will not let Fellows down.

The Board Chairman observed that the standard of fellowship was falling and reminded
members of the Board that the Fellowship certificate belongs to the NIS. He assured that work
would start immediately and that Fellows’ contacts would be obtained from the Secretariat
for effective communications.

3.0 FELLOWS, OBSERVATIONS AND RESPONSES

3.1 PC 1 Building

Past President Adeaga asked that since the Board is at the apex of membership status in the
Institution, what would be the position of the Board on the PC 1 building? Emeritus Prof.
Fajemirokun in his response, noted that there was a debt burden that had to be addressed
within two weeks if the Institution would not lose the PC 1 building.

In his response, the Board Chairman submitted that the President would surely address the
issue but that the PC 1 building is a baby of the Institution’s Board of Trustees.

3.2 Suspended Fellows

Surv. E. B. Awudu appealed to the Board to prevail on the NIS to respond to his letter on the
suspension of a Director in the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, OSGOF, who
is a Fellow of the Institution. Surv. Yahaya and Surv. Alara also added their voices urging the
Board to look into the suspension.

Responding, the Board Chairman said although the matter can be referred to the Board,
nothing on it was before the Board as at that point in time. He added that due process will
have to be followed when attending to the issue of suspended Fellows.

3.3 Attendance at Board Meetings

Surv. Osoko observed that once inducted, some Fellows become so nonchalant that they don’t
attend Board meetings or even participate in NIS affairs. He wondered what could be done to
such Fellows.

Surv. Onochie in his reaction, informed the meeting that the Screening Committee had
actually worked on guidelines for discipline of Fellows. He promised to make the document
available to the Executive.

It was generally agreed that the Executive have a lot of work to do but that whatever
disciplinary measure was put in place should be in tandem with the Institution’s constitution.

4.0 CLOSING

In his closing remarks, the Board Chairman assured that the Executive would work hard to put
the Board on a strong footing (as it starts its existence) under an independent Executive. He
appealed for the cooperation of all Fellows as the journey commenced.

The meeting ended at 4:15pm with a prayer by Surv. Umar.

SURV. REV. DR. BOSUN AYINDE, ppnis SURV. PRINCE AFOLABI O. SOLESI
Chairman, NIS’ Board of Fellows Secretary, NIS’ Board of Fellows

BOF Meeting

Board of Fellows
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
17th November 2016

Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja

Chairman’s
Address

BoF Chairman’s Address to Nov. 17 2016 ASSEMBLY

Mr. President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
Past Presidents of the Institution
Fellows of the Institution
Ladies and Gentlemen

I welcome you heartily to the very first meeting of the Board since having its own Chairman. Let
me also express my gratitude to you all and in particular to my senior past presidents who
conceded the chairmanship of the BOARD to me. I am humbled by the confidence you repose in
me to undertake this assignment and take up this grave responsibility and I count on your
continued support to ensure that the Body of Fellows carries out its functions under the
constitution of our revered Institution to the level that will be a pride to all of us.

The theme of this address is “decorum, loyalty, integrity, and accountability.” These attributes
were present and in abundance when I was elected Publicity Secretary of the Institution in 1977,
some thirty-nine years ago. But today, these virtues are either none existent or in very short supply
among our members and in the Institution. It has now become my responsibility and yours too,
individually, and collectively to restore these attributes and enforce discipline if we are to live
worthy of the honor of “FELLOW” bestowed on each one of us by our institution.

The word decorum means politeness, propriety in manners and conduct, orderliness, and,
observance of acceptable behavior in any decent society. It is the behavior in keeping with good
taste. These days we lack decorum in our meetings. Past President Fajemirokun stood up to
address the AGM in SOKOTO and he was (booed, heckled: interrupted, disrupted, and to break
up) shouted down. I was also (booed) shouted down in OSHOGBO for stating the position of the
Institution on issues of the Presidency of SURCON. This distasteful behavior was not in consonance
with the conduct expected of members of the Institution I joined nor would it have been tolerated
forty years ago. Should such disgraceful conduct be the norm in our gathering? Let me state that
some of the conditions for suspending a member or delisting a FELLOW are disobedience,
rudeness, and insubordination to constituted authority, all of which you demand of me to enforce,
and I shall.

Section 2.12 of the instrument that sets up this Board states, "The total number of FELLOWS must
be pegged at not more than 10% of the CORPORATE membership of the NIS." Presently, the
Institution has exceeded this quota by about 20%. This is why a thorough editing of BoF
membership Register has become necessary, and that no member shall be elevated until the
above quota can be accommodated. Not only have we violated the terms of the constitution in
this wise, I find it difficult to publish an authentic register of members in accordance with the
order of elevation. As a professional organization, list of names of members must be in order of

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seniority (as per the bye law) rather than alphabetical order which is what is being done presently.
The register of members now published is not perfect and may be subject to review.

Fellows & Indebtedness

Section 12.3 of the constitution exempts members above the age of seventy years from paying
subscription. Similarly, section 4.0 (iv) states that Fellows above the age of seventy years may
attend board meeting and other activities at their convenience. But under sources of revenue
section 11 (h) imposes (30% of AGM registration fees) compulsory levy for absentee. This
provision cannot apply to those members above the age of seventy years. However, those under
the age of seventy must ensure they do not fall foul of this provision bearing in mind
that consistent indebtedness to the institution is sufficient ground for suspension of membership
or delisting as FELLOW.

Where is our loyalty? NIS/SURCON

At the Sokoto AGM, the General Assembly directed that the Institution and the leadership of
SURCON should work together to resolve the differences between the two organizations. Past
President Akhigbe went the extra mile to meet the SGF in his office to initiate the resolution.
However, some groups of surveyors chose to elect their own chairman (contrary to our
constitution and the norms) to head the committee to implement the AGM directive thereby
thwarting the aspiration of the AGM. More recently I am told that the same group of surveyors
got together using government apparatus to reconstitute SURCON and elect its president from
among themselves to the total exclusion of our President and the Institution whose members are
the practitioners of the profession for the control of which SURCON was established.

At the time when the law setting up SURCON was being drafted, there were twelve states of the
Federation of Nigeria (with twelve Surveyors General) which was why the representation of the
Institution on SURCON was twelve in order to maintain a balance. Today, there are thirty six/thirty
seven Surveyors General on SURCON while the representation of the Institution remains at
twelve. In their latest submission of amendment to the SURCON Act, all Surveyors General are still
being proposed as members of SURCON, notwithstanding the possibilities of increase in the
number of states of the federation while the representation of the Institution remains at twelve.
Furthermore, I am told that even the 12 seats for the Institution is being asked to be shared
amongst the Hydrographic Society, the Cartographic Association, the Association of Geodesy, and
various other bodies. This means that as far as SURCON (which now appears as being run as an
extension of the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation) is concerned the Institution has
no say whatsoever in its affairs.

In my forty years as officer of the institution I have watched our colleagues who hold powerful
positions in government, where such position and power could have been used to enhance the
profession and advance the cause of the Institution, chose (and still choose) instead to use such
powers to the disadvantage of the Institution to which we all belong, only for such members when

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they leave their very powerful positions in government to run back to seek elective office or similar
recognition or benefits in the Institution from which they once turned their back. The word loyalty
means, cooperation, commitment, allegiance, faithfulness, the act of binding yourself
intellectually or emotionally to a cause of action, devotion, staunchness, and constancy. So, where
does their loyalty lie?

In civilized nations, Professional Bodies control the profession, not Government. And the Nigerian
Institution of Surveyors proposed SURBON to government over forty years ago to this end, but
our colleagues in government continue to scuttle that aspiration, preferring to hold on to the relics
of colonial masters in the words of Surv. Folowosele, or continue to maintain the master-servant
relationship in the words of Past President Adekunle Kukoyi. In recent years other professions like
the NSE have joined the race, calling on government to hands off control of the profession in
Nigeria. In Britain from whom Nigeria obtained her independence The Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors control the profession of Surveying, not Her Majesty's Government. The
same government apparatus used by our powerful members in government to reconstitute
SURCON could have been used and can be used to achieve the aspirations of the institution if
indeed members high and low are loyal to the Institution.

Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those who responded
to the Secretary's call for members to send their views on what they expect from the Board of
Fellows. Thank you all because it shows your commitment to the Institution and the Board of
Fellows. One such responder raised a number of issues some of which are: loss of moral credibility
of leadership of the Institution in recent years; lack of leadership building mechanism to allow for
easy transition in succession of leadership of SURCON; and setting up mutually agreed system for
easy SURCON SUCCESSION. Finally, he wrote "NIS cannot claim supremacy over other tripod legs
. . . NIS is a product of democracy. In democracy there is no supremacy but all powers are
separated, mutually respected with checks and balances. I will never align with the confusion
going around by some NIS members and EXCO. that NIS is supreme and it can just hold any persons
or body on the jugular. . . If we set up a mutually agreed system for SURCON SUCCESSION we will
go high places." (unquote)

That we have a Fellow of the Institution and possibly many others (Fellows and members) who
hold this view is one of the many reasons why I asked for reflection on the plight of our Institution
with her disloyal members. This kind of view also informed the necessity for reading to your
hearing the Address (complaint against members in government) of Pp Kukoyi to Council in
January of 1981 where the revered Past President Kukoyi quoted presidents of other institutions
as follows, "In the words of Arc. Oluwole and QS Emiowele (during the NYSC Directorate meeting)
"the institution is Supreme and its members, high and low, within and outside the Ministries owe
it a professional obligation to assist in ensuring the achievement of its set objectives” (unquote).
We, therefore, need to examine their understanding of what the Institution stands for (for some
or even many of our members) and their loyalty to the Institution that conferred on them her
highest honor of FELLOW. In the words of Arch. Oluwole, QS Emiowele, and Pp Kukoyi, do our

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members, high and low, in or outside the ministry consider it their professional obligation to assist
in ensuring the achievement of the objectives of the institution?

Where is our Integrity?

On the other hand, another Fellow of this Institution wrote, "Many of our Surveyors these days
know the control points around which they will traverse, they know their clients and are able to
bargain with them. They do not know the input of many in the profession who had toiled to make
the trade what it is today. Since they do not know, they cannot appreciate and as a result they
drag the profession into the mud."

Indeed, many of our members do not know the struggle and sacrifice which our forefathers made
to bring the Institution and the profession to what it is today. Recently, Surv Banji Akinhanmi
(FNIS) delivered a paper to the Lagos State Branch of APPSN where he produced Quarterly Pillar
returns against individual surveyors for the three quarters of 2002 (January-March; April-June,
and July-September). The histogram (statistical-graph) so produced from the returns was rather
revealing. It showed clearly those involved in unethical practice. I am not aware that similar
exercise had been carried out since then. But it would appear that the number of unethical
practices is on the increase and one must wonder what SURCON is doing to maintain the integrity
of the profession, for this is the primary duty of SURCON.

Our founding fathers bequeathed integrity and discipline to this Institution, yet it is on record
that one Secretary General, a Member, slapped a Fellow of the Institution and very little was done
to discipline either of the parties in a way to deter similar acts in future. Pa Olumide our first
President, we are told, retired at the appointed age of fifty-five; not even the persuasion of the
colonial administration (for him to stay on for personal financial benefit) could make him change
his mind. Pa Olumide insisted that age fifty five is age fifty five. What shall we say about our second
President Pa Ekundayo Ajayi, a chartered engineer, who chose to be a common carpenter in Gold
Coast, present day Ghana, because he would not accept being discriminated against by the white
man in his own country. These leaders left us examples of integrity and demonstration of
uprightness and strong moral principles.

If this is who we are, why would a President and his Secretary General be involved in a scandal
involving funds of the Institution amounting to over thirty million Naira? And why, for over four
years, was no acceptable explanation given to members by two/three successive administrations?
WHERE IS OUR ACCOUNTABILITY? Only recently the office of the Surveyor General of the
Federation was reported as being investigated by EFCC; while reports of atrocities of various
magnitude are being committed daily in offices of some Surveyors General.

That is not all, the Cross River Watch reported, that "Cross River Surveyors Chair Drag Surveyor
General To Court, Demanding 50 Million Naira Damages.” In the article the State Branch Chairman
of the Institution in Cross River State prayed the court among others: that the act of the Surveyor
General in suspending the Chairman, as a member of SURCON State Committee on Ethics, is null,

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void, and of no effect; she further prayed the court to issue "An order directing the Surveyor
General of the State to pay back funds already used by him to fund his government office,
residence, and non SSCE staff. . . Most certainly, this is not the Institution our fore fathers handed
down to us. And if we must live worthy of our profession, there has to be a change in loyalty, in
discipline, in decorum, in honesty of purpose, and in accountability, and the change must start
with you and with me. As to the situation in Cross River State, since both parties are FELLOW the
Board will look into the matter further, bearing in mind that that the SOKOTO AGM directed that
court cases to settle disputes should be a last resort after exhausting all internal mechanism.
In closing, let me reiterate that section 4.1 (ii) of our constitution states that the Board shall serve
as the custodian and caretaker of the image and tradition of the Institution and the profession.
And section 4.1 (vii) empowers BoF to INTERVENE in matters involving members or state branches
and on matters referred to it by council. Therefore, this assembly must take a decision today on
any FELLOW found involved in any infamous act enumerated above; acts seen by many as anti-
NIS. For me as your Chairman, any member of the Board of Fellows involved in any act that
tarnishes the image of the surveyor or brings the Institution to disrepute will have to contend with
the terms of the constitution relating to such infamous conduct. Surveyors of honor are looking
up to this Body of Fellows to do that which is right.
Thank you and God bless you all
Thank you and God bless you all
Surv. (Rev. Dr.) Bosun Ayinde. FNIS, FRICS, PPNIS.
CHAIRMAN BOARD OF FELLOWS

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BOF Meeting

Board of Fellows
Nigerian Institution of Surveyors
17th November 2016

Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja

Presentation

Presen
to t

Board of

ntation
the

f Fellows

On the 31st of july 2015 at t
the Institution by passing am
its constitution gave autono
of Fellows

This presentation is to give
the state of the Board of Fe
inaugural meeting of the Bo

So that they will be better p
handle the functions of the

the Sokoto AGM
mendments to
omy to its Board

an overview of
ellows to the
oard.

positioned to
e Board.

This presentation will cover the

• FELLOWSHIP AS WE ARE
• STRUCTURE OF THE FELL
• FACTS ON THE FELLOWSH
• CHARGE TO THE BOF AN
• RE-BRANDING INITIATIVE

e following;

LOWSHIP NOW.
HIP
ND FELLOWS OF THE NIS
ES

FELLOW
AS WE

WSHIP
E ARE

The Board of Fellows

AGM

Council

National Executive Branches
Committee

Board
of Fellows

Sub Groups

within the Institution

OSI

The Board of Fell

26 26 States have Fellow
334 334 members have b
283 283 Fellows are still a

lows in Numbers

ws
been inducted into the Fellowship
alive.

STRUC
OF T

FELLOW

CTURE
THE
WSHIP

Fellow

Highest cadre of mem

Executive

National ( now existi
State (Guidelines Yet

Body of Fellow

This is the state gath
only 11 states qualify

Board of Fello
283 Active Me

mbership

ing)
t to be Set)

ws

hering of Fellows. By existing criteria
y to have a Body of Fellows

ows
embers

STATE
ON
BOD
FELLO

FACTS
THE
DY OF
OWS

FAC

ON

BODY OF

CTS

THE

FELLOWS



State No. Fellows

ABIA 4
AKWA-IBOM 6
ANAMBRA 7
BAUCHI 3
BAYELSA 2
BORNO 1
CROSS RIVER 6
DELTA 11
EDO 18
EKITI 4
ENUGU 11
FCT 21
IMO 12
KADUNA 3
KANO 2
KOGI 2
KWARA 5
LAGOS 61
NIGER 2
OGUN 25
ONDO 10
OSUN 13
OYO 27
RIVERS 25
SOKOTO 1
ZAMFARA 1

There are o

? Ogun
? Delta
? Edo
? Ekiti
? FCT
? Imo
? Lagos
? Ondo
? Oyo
? Osun
? Rivers

only 11 States that meet this criteria

NUMBER
ON

BOARD OF

R FACTS
THE

F FELLOWS

NUMBER OF FE

90

80

70

60

50

40

30 9 19 23
20 14 17
10
7 65 1

4 3 3 1

0

ELLOWS BY STATE

84

27 30 28

12 11 13 11
4226 2

AGE F
ON

BOAR
FELLO

FACTS
THE
RD OF
OWS

The Board of Fe

83 83 fellows are 70 yea
73 Another 73 will be jo
106 In 15 years a further

21 Leaving 23 fellows
youngest would be 8

ellows by AGE!!!

ars and above

oin this group in the next 5 years

106 would have also joined the 70’s

who in the next 16 years the
8 years away from his 70th birthday

VACANC
ON

BOAR
FELLO

CY FACTS
THE
RD OF
OWS