NIQS urged to partner economic planning ministry on budget for infrastructure
APAST president of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors ( NIQS), Mr Samson Emiowele has urged partnership between the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning regarding yearly budget formulations and development plans with respect to infrastructure projects.
Emiowele, who spoke at the NIQS Leadership Retreat in Abuja, said the current method of putting arbitrary figures on infrastructural projects for inclusion in budgets is regrettable, adding that well researched and articulated information by the institute would most salutary to the budgeting process.
He also proposed that the institute consider strategic partnerships with the Federal Government through some of the specialised agencies, legislature, parastatals, media and advertising agencies and cognate professional bodies.
Speaking on ‘ Building Strategic Partnerships: Highlighting the Importance of Partnerships and Collaborations in Advancing NIQS Goals,’ Emiowele said institute could provide collaborative information regarding the materials relevant to the construction industry sector with the Bureau of Statistics, a parastatal of the Federal Government that provides the price movement indices of all the materials within the national economy. He also suggested the institute partner with national newspapers that provide monthly market surveys on construction materials, some universities and polytechnic from different zones to sponsor cutting edge research on any aspect of construction costs, as well as local councils or any other agency to carry out beautification in parks or public squares.
Emiowele further suggested partnership with a public relations organisation and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN) to organise economic construction costs and project procurement management exhibitions yearly.
“Collaborate with the National Universities Commission ( NUC) National Board for Technical Education ( NABTE), Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria ( QSRBN) on the appropriate matriculation requirements for students pursuing the quantity surveying profession periodically,” he added.
Another past president, Mr Agele Alufohai, while examining international trends in quantity surveying and how the institute can align with global best practices, said incorporating these trends into the Nigerian construction sector, both in public and private projects, can contribute significantly to the country.