The registration of Surveyors was done through the Surveyors Licensing Board though it was perceived by most Surveyors as not adequately serving the interest of the profession as the number of persons registered as Surveyors was very insufficient. This led to the culmination in the repeal of CAP 194 of 1958 establishing the Surveyors Licensing board and the promulgation of the Decree 44 of 1989 establishing the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON). The legal name cited in the Decree was the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON) but the members of the Council felt that the functions went beyond the registration of persons seeking to become Surveyors to include the regulation and control of the practice of the profession. It was then decided that the name should be the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON).
The first meeting was held on Monday 30th April, 1990 at the Main Hall of the National Assembly Complex in Lagos. Surv. Olugbenga Adekoya, fnis was appointed as President while Surv.M.N. Yahaya, fnis was appointed as Registrar.