Section 23: Interpretation, etc.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"approved" means for the time being approved under section 12 of this Act;
"approved building technology qualification" means a qualification which is approved in respect of the building profession;
"builder" means a person who has received an approved standard of professional training and practice in building and found competent after due examination or holds a qualification acceptable to the Council;
"certificate of experience" means a certificate granted in pursuance of section 14 of this Act;
"Council" means the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria established by section 1 (1) of this Act;
"disciplinary tribunal" has the meaning assigned to it by section 16 (1) of this Act;
"investigating panel" has the meaning assigned to it by section 16 (3) of this Act;
"Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibility for matters relating to building; and "Ministry" shall be construe accordingly;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made under this Act;
"profession" means the building profession;
"public service" means public service of the Federation or of a State, as defined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999;
"register" means the register maintained under this Act and "registered" shall be construed accordingly;
"Registrar" means the Registrar appointed in pursuance of section 7 of this Act;
"regulations" means regulations made by the Minister.
(2) For the purposes of this Act-
(a) a person is fully registered if his name is for the time being entered in the part of the register maintained in respect of fully registered persons;
(b) a person is provisionally registered if his name is for the time being entered in the part of the register maintained in respect of provisionally registered persons; and
(c) a person is temporarily registered if his name is for the time being entered in the part of the register maintained in respect of temporarily registered persons,
and "fully registered", "provisionally registered" and "temporarily registered" shall be construed in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection.
(3) Any approval, consent, direction, notice, observation, report, representation or request authorised or required to be given or made by or under this Act shall be in writing and may, without prejudice to any other method of service but subject to the provisions of rules made under paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to this Act, be served by post.