The Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects has advised the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, against reconstituting and opening the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
In a letter written by its solicitors on Friday, January 19, 2024, and received by the Minister, The Association stated that, welcoming new Council members for ARCON, while an appeal over the membership status of an entity invited to nominate members is pending at the Court of Appeal will be breaking the law, which the Minister pledged to abide by.
The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria and six others and the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigeria Institute of Architects, as the Third Defendant, were accused by the Association of usurping the roles assigned to the Nigerian Institute of Architects under the Architects (Registration, etc.) Act, Cap. A19, L.F.N., 2004 and of promoting quackery in the architectural profession through their establishment and operation of a tertiary educational institution in violation of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act.
Additionally, the Association claimed that the Minister of Housing & Urban Development, who oversees the architectural profession in Nigeria, had finalised plans to reconstitute and inaugurate ARCON on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, through his officers and in cooperation with the Nigerian Institute of Architects’ Incorporated Trustees, despite the fact that the court overseeing the case has not yet addressed the matter of ARCON’s member constitution among other matters.
The letter, which was signed by C.E.C. Njoku, Esq. (Counsel to the Association of Nigerian Chartered Architects), was forwarded to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Minister for Justice.
It advised the Minister to be cautious to avoid engaging in actions that will conflict with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s steadfast commitment to upholding the rule of law. The letter will also be given to the new Council members of ARCON on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. It further warned that should the Minister obstinately move on with the inauguration and reconstitution of ARCON, they would be happy to follow out the client’s directive to begin contempt proceedings against the Minister, among other possibilities.
Source: ViewPoint Housing News
