Ibadan – The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday moved to eliminate the activities of quack surveyors and fake survey plans in the state in a bid to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
This followed plenary deliberation on a motion entitled, “Need to Encourage Developers to do Record Copy Survey Plan so as to Boost Oyo State’s Internally Generated Revenue.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion was moved by the house minority leader, Mr Joshua Ojo (LP/Oririe) and co-sponsored by Messers Michael Sangodipe (APC/Atisbo) and Akeem Oladipo (APC /Ibadan Northwest).
Ojo said that the proliferation of fake survey plans and activities of quacks in the sector had adversely affected the revenue drive of the state government.
“This has been the order of the day in the state for over five decades and it is disturbing that some developers prefer the services of these quack surveyors.
“They willingly accept this survey plans which have no record, otherwise known as record copy at the Surveyor-General’s office without considering the future implications.
“There are many benefits in acquiring a record copy; one being that it can be used as a genuine document to be presented in a court of law should litigation arise on land matters,” he said.
According to him, continued sensitisation of developers and members of the public in other states on importance of a record copy of survey plan had yielded positive results.
“These state governments have realised huge financial resources from this and the Oyo State Government should also take a cue and explore this avenue to boost her IGR.
“Over the years, the state government had enacted several laws to make provisions for the survey of lands.
“Unfortunately, such laws or provisions have not been fully enacted and it has resulted in huge revenue losses from that source on yearly basis,” he said.
In his contribution, Sangodipe said that to generate revenue, individuals should be encouraged to patronise only licensed surveyors.
“Government should encourage the use of survey plan as criterion to secure approval for building plans, certificate of occupancy, deed of assignments and the likes,” he said.
After much deliberation, the house called on the Ministry of Land, Survey and Housing to sensitise the developers and members of the public on the importance of producing an original plan.
The Speaker, Mr Michael Adeyemo (APC/Ibarapa East), directed the Committee on Land and Survey to meet with the Department of Survey and Housing in the ministry.
The meeting, he said, would be to determine if there would be a need to amend the State Survey Law, 2013.
Adeyemo said that the committee should report its findings to the House within two weeks.