NIQS to Sanction Members Found Culpable in Building Collapse

NIQS to Sanction Members Found Culpable in Building Collapse
By Laleye Dipo in Minna
Disturbed by the rising cases of building collapse across the country, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has said that it will henceforth sanction any of its members found to have been involved in the construction of any collapsed building.
Already, a probe panel has been set up to look into the cases involving the Institute’s members.
The National President of the Institute, Mohammed Abba Tor, who disclosed this in Minna, Niger State on Thursday, after the opening of a pre-AGM workshop taking place at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, also said that the Institute will prosecute those found wanting, adding that non members of the organisation found culpable will face similar treatment.
“We have our share of blame in the cases of collapsed buildings. We should however not be totally held responsible, there are other organisations involved,” Tor said.
He therefore challenged other professional organisations in the building industry to “rise up to their responsibilities by taking steps to sanction any of their members with hands in any collapsed building”.
Tor said the Institute has sent series of recommendations to the federal government on how to reduce drastically the incidences of collapsed buildings in the country but declined to disclose the suggestions made to ameliorate the problem.
In the meantime, the Institute has unveiled “A New Brand Identity” at the ongoing annual general meeting (AGM) of the organisation in Minna.
Unveiling the identity, Tor said: “The essence of the new identity  is part of the rebranding project to properly situate the Institute within the context of domestic and global changes, to ensure it remains relevant to society and discharge its obligations to members in the most effective ways possible.”
The NIQS National President decried how the role of the quantity surveyor is sometimes being overlooked in the construction industry.
“Overlooking the input of the QS has negative impacts ranging from costs inflation to procurement of sub-standard materials and misalignments between assumed project material needs and actual requirements.”
Among the prominent quantity surveyors at the meeting was the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida III.
A communique is expected to be issued  at the end of the workshop.

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