Quantity Surveyors Issue Strong Warning Against Encroachment on Cost Management Practice
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has issued a firm caution to other built-environment professionals against what they describe as encroachment into cost management practice, emphatically stating that this crucial function remains the exclusive core responsibility of properly trained quantity surveyors. This significant warning was delivered during a major professional gathering in Lagos that brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria's construction and infrastructure sectors.
Professional Boundaries and Core Responsibilities
Speaking at the seminar and investiture ceremony for Ololade Sokoya as the 9th Chairperson of the Women Association of Quantity Surveyors in Nigeria (WAQSN), NIQS President Dr. Aminu Bashir delivered a clear message about professional boundaries. He stated unequivocally that cost and procurement management of building and infrastructure projects fall squarely within the specialized expertise of quantity surveyors, a position supported by their extensive training and professional qualifications.
"We respect the important roles that engineers and architects play in design and implementation aspects of construction projects," Bashir declared. "However, cost and procurement management expertise is fundamentally the preserve of quantity surveyors by virtue of our comprehensive training, which spans from tertiary education through rigorous professional practice and certification processes."
Advocacy for Transparency and Anti-Corruption Measures
Bashir revealed that the institute is intensifying its advocacy efforts to ensure that proper cost management becomes embedded in both public and private sector projects throughout Nigeria. According to his detailed explanation, this strategic focus is essential to promote greater transparency, effectively curb corruption, and ensure genuine value for money in project delivery across the nation's construction landscape.
The NIQS President disclosed significant institutional partnerships, including a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This agreement establishes a framework for quantity surveyors to provide crucial support in property valuation, expert witness services, and advisory roles in asset recovery and project evaluation processes. Additionally, the institute is actively engaging with other government agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as part of comprehensive efforts to strengthen accountability mechanisms in public infrastructure projects.
Addressing Professional Awareness Challenges
Bashir identified low public awareness of the profession's core competencies as a major ongoing challenge facing quantity surveyors in Nigeria. He noted with concern that many abandoned projects scattered across the country could be directly traced to the absence of proper cost management from project inception through completion. This professional visibility gap, according to Bashir, contributes significantly to project failures and financial losses in Nigeria's construction sector.
Women's Leadership and Industry Challenges
In her inaugural remarks, the newly inaugurated Chairperson of WAQSN, Ololade Sokoya, outlined the association's commitment to empowering women to assume greater leadership roles within the traditionally male-dominated construction industry. She emphasized that women in the quantity surveying profession have consistently demonstrated exceptional competence and should be actively encouraged to maximize their professional potential through supportive policies and mentorship programs.
Addressing the pressing issue of rising building material costs, Sokoya attributed this concerning trend to global economic pressures, noting that significant fluctuations in international markets have directly impacted construction costs throughout Nigeria. She offered practical advice to developers and project owners, urging them to adopt proper cost planning and management strategies from project inception to effectively mitigate financial risks and ensure project viability.
"Cost planning and cost management are absolutely critical components of successful project delivery," Sokoya emphasized. "All stakeholders must plan adequately and comprehensively before embarking on projects to avoid disastrous cost overruns that can derail even the most well-intentioned development initiatives."
Reflections and Future Directions
The outgoing Chairperson of WAQSN, Dr. Bukola Aluko-Olokun, described her tenure as a period of significant growth and resilience for the women's association. She noted with pride that WAQSN had successfully expanded its presence within the Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors despite numerous professional challenges. Aluko-Olokun highlighted the continuing need for persistence and strategic navigation within a sector that remains predominantly male-dominated at leadership levels.
Chairman of the occasion, Professor Olubola Babalola, called for greater recognition of the essential role played by quantity surveyors in Nigeria's development landscape. He urged professionals to strengthen collaborative efforts while advocating for the establishment of dedicated faculties for quantity surveying disciplines within Nigerian universities to enhance professional training and standards.
Technological Evolution and Professional Adaptation
In his keynote address, industry expert Obafemi Onashile presented a forward-looking perspective on the construction industry's evolution. He described the sector as becoming increasingly volatile, with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence expected to fundamentally reshape professional practice in coming years. Onashile urged all practitioners to proactively adapt to these evolving technological trends to remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing professional environment that demands continuous learning and innovation.
The comprehensive discussions at the event highlighted the critical intersection of professional boundaries, gender inclusion, technological adaptation, and anti-corruption measures within Nigeria's quantity surveying profession, signaling important developments for the country's construction and infrastructure sectors.
