APPRAISAL OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Abstract

The high level of corruption in Nigeria which often leads to high cost of construction is responsible for low infrastructure development as a result of inappropriate distribution of construction cost among the various physical infrastructure developments. This calls for the intervention of Quantity surveyors in both the planning and the implementation of national infrastructure development plans in Nigeria. This study therefore appraised the contributions of quantity surveyors to national infrastructural development plans with a view to improving the performance of Infrastructural developmental plans. Data for this research were gathered through extensive review of documentary evidence of national development plans from the pre-independence to date and interview of Quantity surveyors who are members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the National Infrastructure Integrated Master Plan (NIIMP) at the planning stage in order to fully determine the level of involvement and their contribution to the success of infrastructure plans. Also Quantity surveyors and Engineers at the National Planning Commission were interviewed in order to ascertain their involvement in the implementation of these infrastructure plans. Content analysis was employed in analysing the interview data. The study revealed that Quantity surveyors’ were not involved in infrastructure development plans until NIIMP was established and the Quantity surveyors’ representation was not adequate for the required output. The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) should therefore reach out to all arms of the government and ensure that there is an aggressive sensational visit and education on the need to further involve Quantity surveyor on National Infrastructural Development Plans for a geometric improvement on National growth.