The president Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya, in an interview with our correspondent, harped on the need to reorganised the auctioneering sector and its importance to national economic growth. Kiliya bore his minds on issues affecting the sector, stressing that only the association of Auctioneers can train and educate the public on the best practices which are accepted world wide, and many others excerpt:
Can we meet you sir?
My name is Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya, the President of Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, I’m from Zamfara State, Nigeria.
How did you venture in the auctioneering business?
It dated many years back, I have been in the business for over forty years, after my retirement from public office in Sokoto State–that is after working in North Western state of Nigeria as secretary of Board of Survey; I ventured into the business, which I was elected the Zamfara state chairman of the body. Later I became the zonal chairman of North West which I served two terms and eventually I was elected the National President. I have done my first term, I’m going on the second term now.
How is this sector important to national building?
You know the work is mainly to sell properties out to the public. The National Association of Auctioneers have in the past, raised money to sponsor 2017, 2018, and 2019 budgets. This was made possible after I wrote to then president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we should be permitted to sell some national assets to raise money which he approved and we did it. So,coming back to your question, if Mr president can allow us to do so, we can raise money through sales for the country and raise money to implement the budget, and there won’t be any need to borrow money for that.
We’ve seen some of your members running up and down about training of new members by another institution, how impactful is it?
Laughter. It’s very funny how we play in this country. We are talking about a sensitive organisation which deals with important materials and properties guided by law, operated by given standard rules and regulations, then someone or a group of persons will come in the name of institution to train people? The truth is, only experienced members of Nigeria Association of Auctioneers led by myself as the president have the right to train the public on best practices of the association. I advise the public not to be misled by anyone to fall in trouble through short change information by any institution who is soliciting or calling people to come for training.
As the president what is the way forward?
The way forward is for the current administration of president Bola Tinubu to partner with us to increase the revenue for the government. These are things I have done for previous administrations and I’m ready with my team to do it again and again. One thing about the business of Auctioneering is that, most of the government officials don’t know what belong to government even after the privatisation. For example, the managing director of ALCON once came to my office to appreciate me for putting him through and the money he made through the association. I also educated most government agencies that core assets remains government properties and money is made here too.
What are some of your achievements?
The achievements are a lot, but I will mention just a little: I personally stopped buyers from taken away core assets of public companies away; I also approached Bayero University Kano to have the public and our members informed on public Auctioneering education in Hausa, Igbo,Yoruba and English, I was asked to bring the curriculum. We also have a bill at the National Assembly to regulate our practice; I also recovered some government properties taken away by members of the public after government privatised some companies; I printed original registration forms for our members to stop forging, fake members and impersonation, etc.
Asides the auctioning, what other things do you do?
I do many things, I am a farmer, business man and consultant. I’m a consultant with the Bank Of Industries, also an agent with the Asset Management Debt Recovery, Auctionering consultant with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), consultant with AG Mortgage Bank, retained Auctioners with Cooperate affairs Commission (CAC), registered auctioner with NNPC, Unity Bank Plc, and various public institutions.
With all these many years of practice experience and leading the sector from local to regional and national level, do you think you still have more to offer?
Yes! Nobody is tired of serving his fatherland, especially if you love it. The sector is part of me and I have contributed all to make it grow to this level. Though I have reached where I want it to be.
My plan is to stabilise it to a level of no misbehave and maintaining standard by members through quality education, practice the business with the laws governing it, working in unity as a team, discipline of members, and above all respecting the constitution of the body so that nobody can wake up one day to deceive our members and Nigerians. We also partner with EFCC, ICPC, police, judiciary and other sectors in the country to operate our business.
Therefore we need to be always on the right track backed by law.