By Adedapo Adesanya
The issues raised in a bill earlier passed by the Senate as regards regulations for the real estate sector in Nigeria have now been addressed.
On Wednesday, the upper chamber of the National Assembly passed a legislature to establish the Real Estate Regulatory Council of Nigeria.
When established, the agency would, amongst others, curb fraudulent practices to ensure that the real estate business confirms with the National Building Code in Nigeria.
The bill which scaled third reading during plenary is tagged: The Real Estate Regulatory Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2021.
The bill sponsored by the senator representing Sokoto North, Mr Aliyu Wamakko was read for the first time on April 28, 2021, and a scaled second reading on June 22, 2021.
The passage of the bill on Wednesday followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
The report was laid during the plenary by the Deputy Chief Whip, Mr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
Mr Nicholas Tofowomo, who presented the report on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the establishment of the Real Estate Council of Nigeria would provide efficient, effective and transparent administration of the business of real estate development in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, the council would be responsible for prescribing minimum standards for the conduct of the businesses of real estate development across the country.
He recalled that the bill seeking to establish the Real Estate Council of Nigeria was passed by both chambers of the eighth National Assembly, but was not assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the President’s decision to withhold assent to the bill was a result of certain observations raised by stakeholders at the time.
“Those observations have been taken care of in this report by the Committee following the engagement with stakeholders to ensure that real estate business in Nigeria confirms with the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2018 in terms of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing due diligence compliance”, Mr Tofowomo said.
He explained that when established, the organisation would standardize the business of real estate by regulating the conduct of transactions; and provide enabling environment and transparency in the business of real estate development in Nigeria.
The lawmaker stated that it would also curb fraudulent practices to ensure that the real estate business confirms with the National Building Code in Nigeria; as well as create an innovative and sustainable environment to promote Nigeria as a real estate investment destination in Africa and the world.
Meanwhile, two bills seeking to establish the Federal Orthopedic Hospital, Patigi, Kwara State; and Federal University of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, have passed second reading in the Senate.
The bills were sponsored by Senators Sadiq Suleiman Umar and Patrick Ayo Akinyelure.
The bills after scaling the second reading were referred by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who presided over the plenary on Wednesday to the Committees on Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further inputs.
Both committees were given four weeks to report back to the upper chamber.
