CLAMOUR for the review of the National Housing Policy continued at the weekend as Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) stressed the need for its conformity to international standards and technological development of modern times.
They argued that a National Building Maintenance Policy and a National Building Material Policy for the country need to put in place; observing that most government buildings in the country are not properly maintained due to lack of legislation, hence the need to put in place a law that would make it mandatory for all government buildings to be maintained.
Speaking when at a courtesy call to Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, recently in Abuja, President of the Council, Umar Aliyu, an architect, noted that ARCON is already working on a draft policy and would present it to enable other relevant professional bodies, make their input.
He told the minister that in, as provided in the Procurement Act under appropriate pricing, all services must be appropriately priced adding that the existing Scale of Fees documents was put in place by the ministry and inter-ministerial committee called Scale of Fees for Construction industry last functioned in 1999.
The ARCON boss, called on the minister to reconstitute the committee and rename it as Appropriate Pricing for Professional Services in the Construction Industry in line with the procurement Act, adding that the existing Scale of Fees documents was put in place by the ministry and inter-ministerial committee called Scale of Fees for Construction industry was set up but last functioned in 1999.
He stated that the council is supposed to be funded by the ministry but there was no budgetary allocation for it in the 2011 budgets while budgetary allocation for the council in previous budgets was very irregular and inadequate.
Aliyu stated that the council has been operating from a rented accommodation and need a befitting and functional headquarters building in Abuja. It also lacks facilities and logistics for ARCON Inspectorate all over the federation. “We are supposed to have an inspection team that would monitor developments all over the country and raise alarm,” he said.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the shortfall in the housing stock and the non-implementation of the National Housing Policy, Aliyu said that the housing policy now requires a review and urged the minister to constitute an all-embracing and appropriate national team to review the policy.
ARCON noted that the cost of building materials in the country is very high and that Nigeria has abundance of local building materials, which have not been harnessed properly thereby leaving the country to importation of virtually all building materials.
He stressed that ARCON wants to make meaningful contributions to the national development efforts as well as ensure that all licensed architects in the country contribute their quota to nation building.
According to Aliyu, the council would support the ministry to achieve government’s set objectives.
Responding, the minister noted that architects are very crucial in the built environment adding that the handiwork and expertise of architects are visible all over the world.
Pepple observed that the major problem with buildings in Nigeria is the poor quality materials being used by some developers, which contribute to the incessant collapse of buildings in the country.
She said, “If buildings collapse as a result of natural disasters like flood, earthquakes, you can’t blame anybody but we don’t have such problems in Nigeria. However, we see buildings collapse on regular basis to the use of substandard materials and at times, bungalows are turned to storey buildings and I have not heard that anybody has been sanctioned over this collapse of buildings”.
On the issue of National Building Maintenance Policy, the minister regretted that that there is no maintenance culture in the country and stressed the need for a change the psyche and values among Nigerians.
She assured that the ministry would work closely with the council, as their support is heavily needed in the sector adding that the ministry would look into the issue of budget for the council.
They argued that a National Building Maintenance Policy and a National Building Material Policy for the country need to put in place; observing that most government buildings in the country are not properly maintained due to lack of legislation, hence the need to put in place a law that would make it mandatory for all government buildings to be maintained.
Speaking when at a courtesy call to Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, recently in Abuja, President of the Council, Umar Aliyu, an architect, noted that ARCON is already working on a draft policy and would present it to enable other relevant professional bodies, make their input.
He told the minister that in, as provided in the Procurement Act under appropriate pricing, all services must be appropriately priced adding that the existing Scale of Fees documents was put in place by the ministry and inter-ministerial committee called Scale of Fees for Construction industry last functioned in 1999.
The ARCON boss, called on the minister to reconstitute the committee and rename it as Appropriate Pricing for Professional Services in the Construction Industry in line with the procurement Act, adding that the existing Scale of Fees documents was put in place by the ministry and inter-ministerial committee called Scale of Fees for Construction industry was set up but last functioned in 1999.
He stated that the council is supposed to be funded by the ministry but there was no budgetary allocation for it in the 2011 budgets while budgetary allocation for the council in previous budgets was very irregular and inadequate.
Aliyu stated that the council has been operating from a rented accommodation and need a befitting and functional headquarters building in Abuja. It also lacks facilities and logistics for ARCON Inspectorate all over the federation. “We are supposed to have an inspection team that would monitor developments all over the country and raise alarm,” he said.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the shortfall in the housing stock and the non-implementation of the National Housing Policy, Aliyu said that the housing policy now requires a review and urged the minister to constitute an all-embracing and appropriate national team to review the policy.
ARCON noted that the cost of building materials in the country is very high and that Nigeria has abundance of local building materials, which have not been harnessed properly thereby leaving the country to importation of virtually all building materials.
He stressed that ARCON wants to make meaningful contributions to the national development efforts as well as ensure that all licensed architects in the country contribute their quota to nation building.
According to Aliyu, the council would support the ministry to achieve government’s set objectives.
Responding, the minister noted that architects are very crucial in the built environment adding that the handiwork and expertise of architects are visible all over the world.
Pepple observed that the major problem with buildings in Nigeria is the poor quality materials being used by some developers, which contribute to the incessant collapse of buildings in the country.
She said, “If buildings collapse as a result of natural disasters like flood, earthquakes, you can’t blame anybody but we don’t have such problems in Nigeria. However, we see buildings collapse on regular basis to the use of substandard materials and at times, bungalows are turned to storey buildings and I have not heard that anybody has been sanctioned over this collapse of buildings”.
On the issue of National Building Maintenance Policy, the minister regretted that that there is no maintenance culture in the country and stressed the need for a change the psyche and values among Nigerians.
She assured that the ministry would work closely with the council, as their support is heavily needed in the sector adding that the ministry would look into the issue of budget for the council.
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