Quantity surveyors tasked on active participation in politics

A Lawyer and Human Right Activist, Barr. Femi Falana has enjoined the quantity surveying professionals to actively participate in politics to help to reshape and reposition the country for better.

Falana, gave the advice at the 14th Annual Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) Lagos Chapter,  with the theme: Professionals in Partisan Politics: Appraising Their Roles In Envisioning Economic Growth and Development of Nigeria” on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the professionals with their wealth of knowledge and experiences possessed what it takes to revamp, salvage and lead Nigeria to the right parts.

Falana tasked NIQS to encourage its members to get involved in politics and monitor them to ensure they promote integrity, honesty accountability in public offices in Nigeria.

“NIQS must take it upon themselves to ensure that its members go into politics and monitor them accordingly. Therefore, I appeal to you not to allow your members to be notorious.

“For 2023 general election, we should go beyond “It is our turn”, or “It is our party”. We should be asking questions on how this country can be moved forward: moved from poverty to prosperity, the insecurity situation, economic situation and the  unemployment rate among other challenges facing the country.

“Right now our country is in trouble, the insecurity situation is quite alarming and it’s no longer enough to blame the government; everybody must be security conscious.  We must ensure that CCT cameras are installed in public places where people are gathered,” Falana said.

The President of NIQS, Mr Olayemi Shonubi, said that if professionals do not get involved in politics, the country would continue to wallow in poverty and keep revolving around its numerous challenges.

According to him, it is time the professionals in Nigeria actively participate in politics to change the narrative and get things done the right way.

“I think we have to bring our professional experiences to influence policies in governance. We cannot leave the space, we must continue to try to get involved in politics because unless we are involved in the decision making body, we will sit down here to conference and talk,” he said.

The President, Commonwealth Association of  Surveying & Land Economy (CASLE), Mr Olusegun Ajanlekoko suggested the need for all the professionals to form a movement, through which they could have their ways into politics.

According to him, professionals in Nigeria should make a move to participate in politics, calling for total restructuring of the governing system as welll as a review of the country’s constitution.

“We are just scratching the problems and the problems will continue to remain with us unless there is total restructuring of the system to enable things be done the right way.

“The professional bodies can make a move by forming a pressure group and take it up from there,” he said.

A former Attorney General of Lagos State, Barr. Adeniji Kazeem, urged the professionals to always support those of their members who had the integrity and capacity to lead.

According to him, “value added” is what Nigeria need, saying that the professionals in Nigeria can produce the competent leaders who can add the needed value.

He advised that the professionals should go into politics, but with adherence to the professional ethics, codes and conducts.