FG reviewing Land Use Act — SGF

The Federal Government is reviewing the Land Use Act of 1978 to take out the sections inhibiting economic development in it, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has said.

Mustapha disclosed this in Abuja Thursday during the opening ceremony of 51st annual conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV).

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“The Federal Government is aware of the challenges pose by the Land Use Act of 1978 to your sector, the building and construction sector. And this is why have embarked on the review of those areas constituting obstacles to economic development’’.

Mustapha, represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary Political and Economic Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said.

He said the review would be done faster in order to foster economic development, especially now that the government is championing diversification.

He called on estate surveyors and valuers to work with the government in the reviewing process.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the chairman in council of NIESV, Emmanuel Okas Wike, said the government should hands off the building of houses in the country to the private sector and liberalise the sector like that of the telecommunication sector.

He called on surveyors to imbibe the virtues of honesty and trust because the services they offer are vital to the economic development and well-being of the society.

He said the profession keeps tab on members’ adherence to the guiding principles embedded in the Code of Professional Ethics and Practice, while applying the stick to erring members without fear or favour.

This is the standard upon which the profession of estate surveying and valuation is anchored, he said.

In his goodwill remarks, former president Goodluck Jonathan bemoaned influx of foreigners into the country’s building and construction sector.

“If this is allowed to continue, the unemployment rate among our youths will continue to increase’’, Jonathan said.

He urged state governors to build training centres in their states where artisans in the building sector could be trained in the advanced building technologies.