Board develops database to determine cost in construction projects
NAN-H-87
Prices
By Bibilari Uche
Abuja, Jan. 26, 2018 (NAN) Registrar, Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN), has developed a dynamic database, which would enable the Federal and state Governments to determine the cost of construction projects to curb corruption.
Mr Godson Moneke, the Registrar, QSRBN, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the database would be in operation from this year, adding that without this, it would be difficult to pin people down to prices in construction costing.
“For instance, a kilometre of road being executed by ministry A can be N1 billion in all material particulars, while the same kilometre of road in all material particulars will cost N10 billion in ministry B.
“Until we are able to have a central tendencies and establish a uniform standard, it will be difficult for anybody to say that prices charged is expensive or not if you do not have a standard price.
“If you do not know the standard price you have no basis to query whatever anybody tells you; we want to develop model in such scenario where government would be able to track prices,” he said.
The registrar told NAN that this would enable the government to curb corruption in the construction sector and as well gets value for money.
He, however, said that the board presently had no fewer than 3,000 certified registered quantity surveyors, who could practice in the profession.
“We have about 3,000 registered quantity surveyors at the moment; this number is small compare to the work to be done in the area of quantity surveying in Nigeria.
“We cannot because the number of quantity surveyors is small and register just anybody as member.
“For one to be certified, you must have studied the profession and acquire the university competence and skills,’’ he explained.
Moneke also said that the board had in the past five years registered more quantity surveyors than it has done in its over 20 years of existence.(NAN)
UU/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide