Rules & Regulations for the Control of Survey Practice in Nigeria PDF

# **Functions of the Council as provided by Section 4 of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria Act Chapter 5.18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004** - Determining who are Surveyors for the purposes of this Act. - Determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seekin...

# **Functions of the Council as provided by Section 4 of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria Act Chapter 5.18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004** - Determining who are Surveyors for the purposes of this Act. - Determining what standards of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seeking to become registered as members of the profession of Surveying (hereafter in this Act referred to as “the profession”) and reviewing those standards from time to time as circumstances may require; - Securing in accordance with the provisions of this Act the establishment and maintenance of a register of persons entitled to practice the profession and the publication, from time to time, of lists of such persons; - Regulating and controlling the practice of the profession in all its ramifications; - Maintaining, in accordance with this Act, of discipline within the profession; - Performing the other functions conferred upon the Council by this Act. ## **Professional Discipline as Approved by Section 16 of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria Enabling Act. Chapter 5.18 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.** 1. There shall be established a body to be known as the Surveyors Disciplinary Committee (hereafter in this Act referred to as “the Disciplinary Committee”) which shall be charged with the duty of considering and determining any case referred to it by the panel established by the following provisions of this section and any other case of which the Disciplinary Committee had cognizance under the following provisions of this Act. 2. The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the President of the Council and ten other members of the Council appointed by the Council of whom not less than four shall be members of the Council holding office by virtue of paragraph (c) of section 2. (1) of this Act or where the number of those members is for the time being less than four, all those members. 3. There shall be a body to be known as the Surveyors Investigating panel (hereafter in this Act referred to as “the Investigating Panel',) which shall be charged with the duty of:- - Conducting a preliminary investigation into any case where it is alleged that a person registered has misbehaved in his capacity as a Surveyor or should for any other reason be the subject of proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee; - Deciding whether the case should be referred to the Disciplinary Committee; and - Submitting a report on any action taken by the Investigating panel to the Disciplinary Committee. 4. The Investigating Panel shall be appointed by the Council and shall consist of seven members of the Council. 5. The Registrar shall act as Secretary to the Disciplinary Committee. 6. The provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act shall, so far as applicable to the Disciplinary Committee and the Investigating panel respectively, have effect with respect to those bodies. ## **Rules and Regulations made by the Council for the Control of Survey Practice in Nigeria.** ### **General** 1. In respect of private property surveys, which the Governor has consented to its demise in line with the Land Use Act, the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) is the sole authority empowered to issue beacon numbers to Practising Surveyors in all the States of the Federation and the Federal capital Territory (FCT). 2. There is hereby established a body to be known as "SURCON STATE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND PRACTICE OF THE SURVEYING PROFESSION" (SSCE) in each State of the Federation, herein referred to as "the Ethics Committee". 3. The Ethics Committee shall consist of the Surveyor General of the State and two other members. 4. The Surveyor-General of a State being a member of Council, by office, shall be the Chairman of the SURCON State Committee on Ethics and Practice of the Surveying Profession. Other members are, the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (N.I.S) Chairman of the State Chapter and one Council member. (see section 23) 5. Each SURCON State Committee on Ethics and Practice of Surveying Profession is hereby charged with the following duties:- - Issuing of SURCON beacon numbers to Surveyors - Making quarterly returns to SURCON headquarters, of beacon numbers issued and plans lodged by Surveyors. - Handling of matters on professional Ethics - Supervising the practice of the Surveying profession, in the State. - Collecting beacon fee for SURCON and remitting such monies to SURCON head office. - Performing other Functions, which Council may direct, from time to time. 6. The SSCE of each State of the Federation of Nigeria shall be responsible to the Surveyors Council of Nigeria for the effective supervision of Survey Practice in its respective jurisdiction and shall make prompt report to the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, through the office of the Registrar, of any breach of professional ethics, rules and regulations, by any Surveyor. 7. The Surveyors Council of Nigeria shall direct such report of misconduct by any Surveyor to the Surveyors Investigating Panel which shall look into the allegations made against a Surveyor and recommend appropriate steps to be taken in accordance with Section 16 of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria Act CAP S.18, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. 8. The Surveyor so investigated shall have the right to reply in writing to all such allegations and findings of the Surveyors Investigating Panel. 9. The Surveyors Investigating panel shall reserve the right to discharge such Surveyor or refer his case to the Surveyors Disciplinary Committee.. ## **Rules of Ethics and Practice** ### **Matters Relating to Survey Beacons** 1. This issuance of beacon numbers to a Surveyor shall only be by prepayment of prescribed fees to SURCON and Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) AS CONTAINED IN THE SCHEDULE OF FEES, PROVIDED FULL RETURNS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR PREVIOUS NUMBERS ISSUED WITHIN THE UMITS APPROVED BY COUNCIL. 2. A Surveyor shall apply in writing for and collect as many beacon numbers as he can prepay for, but not more than the limit approved by Council at a time, from the Chainnan of the SSCE of his state. Survey jobs requiring more than the limit approved will receive the required number. of beacons' as each job demands, on presentation of a provisional Survey Plan that will justify the request. 3. The Surveyor shall apply in writing for and collect beacon numbers only with evidence of the job(s) he intends to execute in a state but within the limits approved by Council or as particular jobs require. 4. Monthly Returns of beacon numbers used shall be made to the Ethics Committees of the relevant State and where no beacon number is used a "nil return" shall be made. 5. Survey beacons shall bear SURCON identifying letters "SC" as well as State identifying letters such as 'KD' for Kaduna States. 6. The Chairmen of Ethics Committees are empowered to allot identity alphabets to Surveyors practicing in their States. 7. A Surveyor shall charge Survey fees in accordance with the provisions of the professional scale of fees for Consultants as approved by the Federal Ministry of Works and the Bill of Quantities, approved by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS). 8. A Surveyor shall also prepay in addition to the payment for Survey beacon numbers a part refundable deposit fees of an amount, per job, as specified in the scheduled of fee to the SURCON State Committees on Ethics. 9. No Surveyor shall remove, tamper' with or recap any Survey beacon emplaced by another Surveyor in the course of carrying out a property Survey. ### **Matters Relating to Survey Plans** 1. All Survey diagrams, Plans and charts prepared by a Surveyor shall be sealed and shall bear a certificate containing the name, address and live signature of the Surveyor who prepared them. 2. All record copies of Survey Plans on tracing cloth or film prepared by a Surveyor shall be lodged with the. Surveyor-General of the State in which they were made within a month of the date of completion, on payment of deposition fees as prescribed by the Rules and Regulations. 3. No Surveyor shall certify copies of another Surveyor's Plan for any reason, without a written consent from the Surveyor that made the Plan originally, except in the case of a deceased Surveyor. 4. No Surveyor shall backdate Survey Plans 5. Only the Surveyor who made a Plan can withdraw same for amendment after lodgment with the Surveyor-General of the State concerned. 6. The Chairmen of Ethics Committees are empowered to allot identity alphabets to Surveyors practicing in their States. 7. A Surveyor shall charge Survey fees in accordance with the provisions of the professional scale of fees for Consultants as approved by the Federal Ministry of Works and the Bill of Quantities, approved by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS). 8. A Surveyor shall also prepay in addition to the payment for Survey beacon numbers a part refundable deposit fees of an amount, per job, as specified in the scheduled of fee to the SURCON State Committees on Ethics. 9. No Surveyor shall remove, tamper' with or recap any Survey beacon emplaced by another Surveyor in the course of carrying out a property Survey.