Architects move to amend ARCON Act

In a bid to end the inherent infractions in the architecture practice, members of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) have proposed that the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act be amended.

The association reached this decision at the end of its Emergency General Meeting (EGM) held at Ibadan, Oyo State.

The association agreed that while it was acceptable that the ARCON Act be amended, it must be done with the full participation and input of the Institute and other stakeholders, as well as empowering NIA president to set up a committee of past presidents and elders, to reflect the six geo-political zones, to receive memoranda from members for proposed amendments.

It also agreed that memoranda to be aggregated and recommendations made to National Assembly before the public hearing.

The General Assembly, among other things, also agreed that input to the amendment shall include, but not limited to tenure limitation for every appointee or representative in the ARCON Council, which shall not exceed two terms as a state representative, ministerial nominee or academia nominee, while the ARCON President shall be the immediate Past President of NIA making him a member of NIA strategic committee.

In addition, NIA members in the resolution signed by Mrs. Abimbola Ajayi, the General Secretary of the institute, called for immediate and unconditional registration of all the successful candidates of the September 2016; and March 2017, NIA PP examinations, now full members of NIA, as well as candidates of subsequent NIA PP examinations as well as the issuance of Certificate of Professional Competence from the Institute, as stipulated in Section 11.1 of the ARCON Act, with immediate effect.

On the collection of Examination Fees from Final Year Students of all Nigerian Schools of Architecture by ARCON, the architects said this must stop, and as such, the Institute should write to all Schools of Architecture and ARCON to that effect. All monies hitherto collected to be refunded.

The meeting, which was attended by 161 members from 19 State chapters in line with Article 24.6 of the NIA Constitution, members frowned at the surreptitious attempt to amend the ARCON Act at the National Assembly without the involvement of the Institute and other key stakeholders.

Babajide Okeowo