…Says there are 5000 registered auctioneers in Nigeria
The Association of Licences Auctioneers of Nigeria has called for a legal framework to provide that only licenced auctioneers can dispose of government properties in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government MDAs.
The group made the call in a presentation at the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce public hearing on ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria to Provide for Among Other Things the Regulation and Control of Auctioneering and for Other Related Matters’ at the National Assembly on Monday.
Chairman of the group in Abuja Mr Musa Soba said that licenced auctioneers are only knowledgeable professional body that can determine the real value of any asset, other interests or holdings of government before its sale to the public.
He informed that there are currently 5000 registered auctioneers practicing auctioneering in Nigeria adding that the auctioneers can fill the wide void existent between the public and private sectors.
Other invited stakeholders notably the Nigeria Institute of Architects said that the nation is loosing billions of dollars by neglecting the practice of auctioneering which it noted is taking a pride of place in the sale of government assets in other countries.
Chairman of the Committee Hon Sylvester Ogbaga assured all the stakeholders that the bill when passed into law would provide the needed legal framework for the practice of auctioneering in the country.
He added that any trade or endeavour that is done without a legal framework is illegal and so is non-existent in accordance with international best practices.
Earlier, the House Committee had considered and approved A Bill for an Act to Establish the Chattered Institute of Directors of Nigeria to Serve as a Regulatory Body for Persons Serving as Directors in Both the Public and Private Sectors, to Determine the Standard bof Knowledge and Skills to be Attained by Persons Seeking become Directors, to make provision for Continuous Training band Development and for Related Matters’