By Ben Atonko
President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) Mohammed Abba Tor has called on government to step up engagement of quantity surveyors in execution of projects.
Speaking with Viewpoint Housing News at a two-day retreat for the National Executive Council (NEC) members and chapter chairpersons of NIQS in Abuja on Thursday, the NIQS president said this will curtail waste.
Tor who recently became president of NIQS lamented that clients suffer huge losses for not engaging certified quantity surveyors, vowing that he will ensure that many quantity surveyors participate in contract costing.
He said, “The second name of quantity survey is Value for Money. We want to ensure that every kobo spent by sponsors – by sponsors I mean client in the public sector, client in the private and organised sectors and even individuals…
“That the amount of money they are spending on a given project should give them improved growth of their investment when compared to opportunity costs of other engagements or other investments or other projects that come side by side with those considerations.
“Value for money is the driving element in whatever we do as quantity surveyors.
“We want to critically look at the real value that should be created if and when you are advised by a quantity surveyor to put your money there.
“By this I mean wastages will be drastically reduced because we have the competence and capacity to ensure probity, accountability and value for money in whatever that is spent by our clients.”
The retreat tagged “2020 National Executive Council and Chapter Chairmen Leadership Retreat” is hinged on corporate governance.
Former president of NIQS Murtala Aliyu who also was Minister of State for Power and Steel between 2001 and 2002 was billed to speak on “The Need for NIQS/NSRBN Collaborative Engagement in Rebranding the QS Profession”.
The training is to prime surveyors who are given mandate to steer the ship of the institute in the next two years.
Tor said, “We want to discuss, get to know one another better, develop bonds and agree with the agenda for our service.
“We look at the areas of focus. How can we take the institute to the next level from where we met it?
“This discussion will give us opportunity to understand one another, to clearly define our goals and objectives.
“By the time we complete our tenure, we will like to look back and feel fulfilled that we have really delivered on the goals and objectives set for ourselves and the mandate given to us by our members has been substantially delivered.”
