The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) is an Association of professional persons in the vocation of real estate and who have given themselves a constitution and have agreed to abide by the standards and ethics of the practice of the noble profession as legally stipulated by Decree No. 24 of 1975 (now CAP E13, LFN 2007) which gave the institution statutory backing and recognition. It is a non-political organisation specifically set up to cater for the interest of the landed profession in Nigeria.
The objectives of the Institution as enshrined in her Constitution are to: (Section 1 of NIESV Constitution):
- establish high and reputable standards of professional conduct and practice in the landed Profession throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- secure and improve the technical knowledge that constitutes Land Economy, Real Estate and Allied Matters, Valuation and Appraisal of Plant, Machinery & Business Asset, Land and Facilities Management, Building Maintenance, Property Development and Investment, and Town and Country Planning, as well as Land Administration Systems.
- facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of such knowledge by establishing Training Institution and working in close collaboration with universities, other institutions of higher learning and other professional bodies.
- promote the general interests of the profession and to maintain and extend its usefulness for the public good by advising, educating and informing members of the public, government departments, statutory bodies, local governments, associations, institutions and such like bodies on all matters coming within the scope of the profession.
- initiate and consider any legislation relevant to the objects of The Institution.
- endeavour to acquaint the public with the role of the Estate Surveyor and Valuer in the economic development of the country.
- enter into contracts, agreement, arrangements or joint ventures with member firms or individuals, company, trust, government, society, organisation, Institution, authority for the purpose of delivering complex professional services to a third party in the profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation and other professions.
- engage in any other lawful activity(ies) which may be conducive to the promotion of any or all the objects of the Institution mentioned above for profit or no profit purposes.
Section 4 – 15 of NIESV Constitution
- Eligibility (Section 4)
- Membership of The Institution shall be open to Nigerians.
- A non-Nigerian may be admitted to membership of The Institution provided that there is in his country a reciprocal recognition arrangement between The Institution and the Professional body to which such a non-Nigerian belongs.
- Admission to membership of The Institution of a non-Nigerian trained in an approved institution in Nigeria shall be at the discretion of The Council
- Membership categories and grades
There are four categories of membership, namely:
- Professional Members are in two grades; ‘Associate’ and ‘Fellow’. They are those who, having undergone the prescribed training, passed the qualifying examinations, obtained the necessary practical experiences and taken the appropriate professional examinations, are duly elected first as ‘Associates’ can be elevated to the Fellowship grade after ten years of being ‘aasociates’ in addition to other requirements as may be approved from time to time by the National Council of NIESV.
- Non-professional Members, comprising Probationers, Graduates and Students, are persons in the process of taking the qualifying professional examinations, but attached to The Institution meanwhile, for the furtherance of their professional education.
- Honorary Members; are persons who are not engaged in the practice of estate surveying and valuation, but by virtue of their experience or eminence, assist in promoting the objects of the Institution.
- Corporate Members are companies and similar organisations, who operate in the real estate sector for instance as developers or manufacturers or the like. These have been adjudged, based on their practice and operations, to be in position to partner with The Institution in promoting its core values.
The Grand Patron of The institution is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The State Governors are the Patrons of The Institution in their respective federating States.
With regard to membership grades, (Section 5) of NIESV Constitution provides as follows: There shall be six grades of membership of The Institution namely: Fellow; Associate; Graduate; Probationer; Student; and Honorary Fellow.
- Fellow (Section 6): A person shall be eligible for transfer to the grade of Fellowship where he satisfies The Council that, at the time of his application, he possesses the following qualifications namely:
- Has made positive contributions towards the growth and development of the profession
- Is of good character and has not been found guilty of a criminal offence and/or professional misconduct.
- Has been an Associate for not less than ten (10) years, five of the ten years which should have been in a senior management position
- Is a person of exceptional standing and experience in the profession and is of established reputation.
- Has passed the examination and/or interview, as the case may be, as approved by The Council.
- To fulfil other conditions as would be prescribed by the membership committee
- Associate (Section 7): A person shall be eligible for election as an Associate where he satisfies The Council that at the time of his application he possesses the following qualifications, namely:
- Has attained the age of twenty-one (21) years.
- Is of good character and has not been found guilty of a criminal offence and/or professional misconduct
- Has passed such examination prescribed and/or approved by The Council
- Has served in an approved office as a Graduate, a Probationer or a Student for a period not less than two (2) years after passing the final examination approved by The Institution
- The Council shall have the power:
- To extend the period of probation as laid down in section 7 (a.iv) of this Constitution and/or
- To require the applicant to sit for and pass a prescribed Examination at the completion of the period laid down in section 7 (a.iv) of this Constitution.
- Graduate (Section 8)
- A person who must have been a Student and who has passed the prescribed examination of or other examinations approved by The Institution may be registered with The Institution as a Graduate.
- Such a person may continue as a Graduate until the end of a period certain as shall be determined by The Council from time to time.
- The Council shall have the power to vary the period of attachment for graduate-ship either generally or in a particular case.
- A Graduate must be of good character and must not have been found guilty of a criminal offence and/or grave misconduct.
- Probationer (Section 9)
- A person who must have been a Student but has not yet passed the prescribed examination of or other examination approved by the Institution may be registered as a Probationer.
- Such a person may continue as a Probationer until the end of a period certain as shall be determined by The Council from time to time.
- The Council shall have the power to vary the period of attachment for probation either generally or in a particular case.
- A Probationer must be of good character and must not have been found guilty of a criminal offence and/or grave misconduct.
- Student (Section 10):
- A Student shall be a person registered as such with The Institution who has attained sixteen years of age and is either:
- Undergoing suitable practical training as a pupil or an assistance in an office or establishment approved by The Council; or
- Studying with a view to entering the profession at such place of professional instruction as The Council may approve
- A Student may continue as such until he has passed the prescribed examination approved by The Council or until the end of the training period for which he has been enrolled into that grade of membership whichever happens first.
- c) The Council shall have the power to vary the period of studentship either generally or in the case of a particular person.
- d) A Student must be of good character and must not have been found guilty of a criminal offence and/or grave misconduct.
- Honorary Fellow (Section 11)
- An Honorary Fellow of The Institution shall be a person who by reason either of his position experience or eminence in any field of learning may be enabled to render assistance in promoting the objects of The Institution.
- An Honorary Fellow shall not:
- be engaged in practice as an Estate Surveyor and Valuer
- be entitled to be present at and to take part in a meeting of The Institution
- have any right of voting
- be called upon to contribute to the funds of The Institution, notwithstanding that donations may be received from him.
- An Honorary Fellow shall have access to the library of The Institution.
- Corporate Member (Section 12)
- Shall be a body Corporate duly registered in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose principal business is in the real estate sector and whose membership shall render assistance in promoting the object of the Institution.
- Shall not:
- be engaged in the practice of Estate Surveying and Valuation
- have no right of voting
- Shall have access to the library of the Institution and to attend seminars and conferences of the Institution provided the Council shall have powers to regulate the admission of such members, levy, admission fees, annual subscription and receive donation pursuant to the object of the Institution.
- Designator Letters (Section 13): Besides other particular privileges contained elsewhere in this Constitution the following designator letters may be used for Members:
- PPNIVS, after the name of a Past President
- FNIVS, after the name of a Fellow
- ANIVS, after the name of Member
- HNIVS, after the name of an Honorary Fellow.
- Rights of a professional financial member (Section 14): A Professional Financial Member shall subject to any further restrictions that may be imposed under this Constitution and/or any Regulations made thereto be entitled to attend, to vote and to be voted for at the General Meeting and to take part in the discussions thereat.
- Cessation of Membership (Section 15)
- A person ceases to be a member of The Institution by resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy, insanity or death.
- If a person ceases for any cause whatsoever to be a member, he and his representative shall not have any interest in or any claim against the funds or property of The Institution and he shall on demand deliver to The Council his Diploma or other properties of The Institution in his possession.
- Officers of The Institution (Section 28)
- The Officers of The Institution shall be nine (9) namely:
- The President
- The first Vice-President
- The Second Vice-President
- The National Secretary
- The National Treasurer
- The National Publicity Secretary
- The Assistant National Secretary
- The Assistant National Treasurer and
- The Assistant National Publicity Secretary
- The President, the First Vice-President and the Second Vice-President shall be Fellows, while the rest may be Fellows or Associates.
The National Council of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers is the supreme body responsible for policy decisions, policy implementations and laws regulating the practice of the profession among her teeming members across Nigeria. Furthermore, the National Council of NIESV gives direction and equally regulate/monitor the activities of members. The National Council carry out her functions through her Committees on the principle of delegated, but collective responsibility.
- The Council (Section 29): The Council shall be the governing body of The Institution and shall consist of the following persons:
- The Trustees of The Institution
- The Officers of The Institution
- The immediate Past President of The Institution
- Ten (10) Un-Official Members
- The Registrar of Estate Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria
- The Chairman of each Branch of The Institution or in his absence the Vice Chairman.
- The Chairman of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, if he is an Estate Surveyor and Valuer; otherwise, the most senior Professional Financial Member who is a member of the Board.
- The Secretary-General of International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Nigeria Chapter, if he is an Estate Surveyor and Valuer; otherwise, the most senior Professional Financial Member who is a member of the Chapter.
- The most senior Professional Financial Member who is a member of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE); and
- The representative of any professional body affiliated to The Institution.
Duties and Powers of the National Council of NIESV
- Affairs and Business of The Institution (Section 31): The Council shall have responsibility for the Administration, Management and Superintendence of the affairs of The Institution and shall meet as often as the business of The Institution may require but at least four times in any one calendar year.
The Institution shall take any legal proceedings required to be taken in the interest of the Institution or to defend any legal proceeding taken against the Institution and for that purpose to authorise the Institution’s Legal Adviser or any Legal Firm as may be appointed by the Institution to take up the matter and sign and file complaints summons, writs of summons, written statement, affidavits, petitions and other papers or documents as may be required to be signed and filed in any court of law or other Judicial or other authority.
Making of Regulations (Section 32):
- The Council shall have the power from time to time to make Regulations, amend regulations and byelaws for the administration and management of The Institution’s affairs subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Institution.
- Any Regulation proposed by The Council in accordance with section 32(a) of this Constitution shall be subject to the ratification of the General Meeting.
- Funds of The Institution (Section 33)
- The Council may apply the funds of The Institution
- In acquiring, renting or erecting and fitting up of a National Secretariat, including any other suitable building for the use of Members
- In acquiring, extending and improving the Library of The Institution; and
- For any other purposes connected with the promotion of the profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation provided that such purposes are in the best interests of The Institution.
- The Council shall have the power to make Regulations for investing the funds of The Institution, subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Constitution.
- Committees of The Council (Section 34)
- The Council shall, amongst others have the following nine (9) Committees. :
- The Management Committee
- The Membership Committee
- The Finance and General Purposes Committee
- The Professional Practice Committee and
- The Education Committee
- Corporate Affairs Committee
- Continuing Professional Development Committee
- Research and Development Committee
- Statutes and Government Relations Committee.
- Establishment of Faculties (Section 35): The Council shall subject to the Provisions of this Constitution and/or any Regulations made thereto, make Regulations for the establishment of specialized Faculties of the Profession of Estate Surveying and Valuation and for the issuance of guidelines for the control and administration of such Divisions.
- Annual Report and Annual Accounts (Section 36): The Council shall submit to the Annual General Meeting an Annual Report on the affairs of The Institution and an Annual Accounts, including the Report of the External Auditors.
- Staff of the National Secretariat (Section 37)
- The Council shall have powers to appoint and to remove the staff of the National Secretariat
- The Council shall have powers to determine the duties of and fix salaries and other remunerations of the staff of the National Secretariat.
- General Provisions
- Miscellaneous Items (Section 78)
- In furtherance of Chapter 1 of this Constitution, The Institution shall through The Council arrange.
- Meetings, lectures, symposia, debates, brain trusts, informal discussions, study groups, seminars and conferences.
- The dissemination of information through the press, radio, television and other media of mass communication
- The collection of data relating to all aspects of the Estate Surveying and Valuation practice and profession; and
- The publication of an official Journal known as “The Estate Surveyors and Valuer”
- The Institution shall through The Council establish a Benevolent Fund:
- To which all members shall contribute
- Which shall be used for the welfare and benefit of Corporate Members and/or the dependents of Corporate Members who may be in need
- Which shall not be applied to any other purpose and
- Which the General meeting shall from time to time make Regulations for its management.
- The Institution shall through The Council establish a Development Fund and or a Foundation.
- The Regulations of the Institution shall be as in Schedule ‘A’ contained in Part II of this Constitution and other Regulations to be made pursuant to this Constitution shall
- Comprise byelaws, directives, guidelines, instructions, rules and ruling proposed by The Council and ratified by the General Meeting
- Include alterations, amendments or additions to byelaws, directives, guidelines, instructions, rules and ruling proposed by The Council and ratified by the General Meeting and
- Be ratified at the General Meeting by a simple majority of Professional Financial Members present and voting in person or by proxy
- In the event that The Institution is unable for any reason whatsoever to properly constitute The Council, the General Meeting conveyed by at least three Trustees shall appoint an Independent Interim Council to administer the affairs of The Institution until The Council is properly constituted, and the Independent Interim Council shall
- Be headed by a Past President as the Chairman.
- Comprise not more than ten (10) Corporate Financial Members out of which seven must be fellows of not less than seven years standing.
- Include the Branch Chairman provided that none of the Chairman has taken position on the subject that led to the disability.
- Have the powers assigned to The Council under the Constitution and or any Regulations made thereto and perform the duties of The Council and/or functions assigned to it by the General Meeting and
- Continue in office for such period or periods as the General Meeting may specify
- All previous references to a Corporate Member as an Associate of the Institution in any document and other records of The Institution, including a Diploma and/or a Certificate are valid and shall remain so
- All positions in The Council shall be honorary and no position shall attract or carry any remunerations.
- Representation of NIESV on the Boarde. ESVARBON (Section 75)
The Institution shall be represented on the Board by the following
- The President
- The National Secretary and
- Two (2) Fellows and two (2) Associates who are not members of the Council, but who shall be elected.
- Amalgamation (Section 76)
- The Institution may enter into an agreement for purposes of amalgamation with any kindred professional body if such amalgamation is approved by a resolution passed by the General Meeting specially called for that purpose in accordance with the Constitution and/or any Regulations made thereto.
- Notwithstanding any other provision in this Constitution, the quorum for such a meeting shall be twenty-five percent of the Corporate Financial Members and the resolution shall be passed where it is supported by three-quarters of the Corporate Financial Members present and voting in person or by proxy.
- Association and Affiliation (Section 77)
- Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and/or any Regulations made thereto, the Institution shall maintain association with the three (5) under-listed bodies namely:
- The Commonwealth Association of Land Economy, CASLE
- The International Real Estate Federation, FIABCI and
- The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN)
- International Valuation Standards Committee
- International Union for Housing Finance
- The Institution shall have the power to admit as an affiliate and/or to affiliate with a professional body if such affiliation is approved by a resolution passed by a General Meeting specially called for that purpose in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and/or any Regulations made thereto.
The Institution is affiliated to the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) and the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE).
