Experts in the auctioneering industry have urged the House of Representatives to expedite action on the passage of the Chartered Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria (CIAN) bill.

In a statement jointly signed by the experts on Sunday in Abuja, they called on the parliament to step down the bill on Auctioneers Registration Council as it would be a duplication of already existing laws.

This is according to Hillary Nwaukor, chairman of the Certified Institute of Auctioneers (CIAN), Adeleke Hassan, CIAN registrar, and Jogunola Onabanjo, president of United Auction House.

Mr Nwaukor explained that the CIAN bill was initiated in 2013 during the 7th Assembly and had passed through Third Reading during the 8th and 9th Assemblies of both chambers at the National Assembly.

Mr Nwaukor revealed that the CIAN bill had been re-gazetted in November 2023 for consideration at the Committee of the Whole in the green chambers. He, therefore, said that introducing the Auctioneers Registration Council of Nigeria bill was unnecessary.

He emphasised that the CIAN bill has adequately addressed the training and certification of auctioneers and enjoyed overwhelming public support from other sister organisations, such as the National Association of Auctioneers, among others.

“We, therefore, observed with much curiosity as well the rationale behind the accelerated consideration being given to a bill that was introduced at the First Reading on June 5 and on June 6  and was referred to the Committee of the Whole in the House,” Mr Nwaukor explained.

He added, “It is in contradiction to extant legislative practices and conventions because at no given time was the Auctioneers Registration Council of Nigeria bill passed through Third Reading in the previous assemblies.

“While we urge our esteemed legislators to ensure adherence to due process and legislative practice and conventions. We wish to observe that the new Auctioneers Registration Council bill (HB 1508) will lead to a double licensing arrangement which makes auctioneers to be licensed at both the federal and state levels.

“The CIAN bill is meant to promote professionalism, regulation and control of auctioneers body of skills and knowledge required for the profession.”

Mr Nwaukor also mentioned that the institute, in its efforts to develop and deepen the practice of auctioneers in Nigeria, has already collaborated with state governments and higher institutions in training and certifying auctioneers across the country.

He said that the institute was also aware that Nigeria’s auction business is on the Constitution’s concurrent list. He stressed that many states in the country already had laws on licensing auctioneers; hence, introducing the Auctioneers Registration Council bill would amount to duplication and constitutional conflict.

Therefore, he stated that the Auctioneers Registration Council bill, if passed into law, would kill the profession and stifle its development across the country.

(NAN)