…reiterates commitment to excellence
The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting excellence and innovation in the surveying profession, while calling for the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Surveying and Geoinformatics to strengthen the institutional framework and national relevance of the profession.
Pius Chukwuemeka Eze, President of the Institution, made the call on Thursday, at the 43rd Olumide Memorial Lecture held in Abuja.
Highlighting his administration’s ongoing efforts, Eze unveiled a seven-point agenda designed to reposition the NIS for greater impact. The agenda, he said, includes: Digital transformation of the national secretariat, public relations and advocacy, revitalisation of the Survey Coordination Act to incorporate GIS and engineering works, promotion of a culture of rewarding professional excellence, comprehensive youth and members’ welfare programmes, execution of key building projects and pursuit of the establishment of a Ministry of Surveying and Geoinformatics.
He also disclosed plans to expand the institutional structure of the NIS to encompass all professional clusters under its umbrella, including Engineering and Mining, Hydrography and Offshore Surveying, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and GIS, Geodesy, Archaeological Surveying, Oil and Gas Exploration, and Cadastral Surveys.
According to Eze, this restructuring will promote knowledge sharing, professional development, higher ethical standards, and stronger advocacy across the diverse branches of the surveying profession.
Eze urged surveyors and other professionals to see themselves as agents of change in nation-building, noting that their expertise forms the “bedrock of any meaningful and sustainable development,”
In his remarks, Patrick Utomi, Professor of Political Economy and Management Expert, urged Nigerians, especially professionals, to take personal responsibility for nation-building, stressing that leadership renewal begins with individual character and civic consciousness.
He lamented that many Nigerians are regressing from citizenship to tribalism and self-interest, warning that this mindset fuels corruption, division, and underdevelopment.
“The challenge we face as a people is that we have stopped thinking. A nation’s transformation does not begin with money or power but with values, reasoning, and responsibility. Retrieving people from the comfort of ignorance and tribalism is the true work of leadership,” Utomi said
He emphasised that professionals must rise above personal or ethnic loyalties to become agents of change, insisting that the future of Nigeria depends on citizens who act with integrity and a sense of shared destiny.
Also speaking at the event, Michael Olufemi Olarinde, special adviser on Tax Policy to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), provided a detailed briefing on Nigeria’s new tax reform framework, which takes effect from January 1, 2026.
Olarinde, who represented Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the FIRS, explained that the reform, anchored on four key tax laws, aims to modernise the country’s tax administration, simplify compliance, and align with digital realities and global best practices.
He noted that the reforms seek to address emerging challenges such as digital taxation, ensuring that businesses operating in the “cloud economy” are properly captured in Nigeria’s tax net.
“Today, someone can be earning income from a cloud-based platform without a physical location. The new reforms bring our laws to this reality, ensuring fair taxation in a digital economy,” he said
He added that the reforms will harmonise multiple tax laws, including corporate income tax, capital gains tax, VAT, and stamp duties, into a single framework, making it easier for individuals and companies to comply.
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“Taxation should not be a burden. It should be a consequence of prosperity. The reforms are data-driven, transparent, and designed to encourage voluntary compliance.”
He advised professionals, especially those in the built environment, to prepare for the transition by maintaining accurate financial records, reviewing project cost structures, and consulting tax experts to align their operations with the new regime.
“Readiness is the next step for professionals. These reforms demand strategic adaptation to protect businesses, enhance compliance, and harness the benefits of a simplified, data-driven tax system,” Olarinde concluded.
