Quantity surveyors demand construction courts

Worried by persistent collapse of buildings in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has called for urgent establishment of construction courts in the coutry. The President of the NIQS, Obafemi Onashile, said there was urgent need for the creation of a purpose-fit judicial system to facilitate adjudication and mediation for the industry. […]

Worried by persistent collapse of buildings in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has called for urgent establishment of construction courts in the coutry.

The President of the NIQS, Obafemi Onashile, said there was urgent need for the creation of a purpose-fit judicial system to facilitate adjudication and mediation for the industry.

Onashile also disclosed that there was urgent need for the formation of Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) or Construction Industry Training Council (CITC), a body of government and industry collaboration, to actively promote and manage technical, as well as vocational training for the industry.

He noted that though the construction industry was very vital to the nation’s economic growth, it, however, lacked cohesion, progressive direction, had too many abandoned constructions, was rigid and reluctant to innovation, was selfish, exploitative and lacked consideration.

Onashile said for the industry to move forward, there was urgent need for a reform, adding that there was the need to increase supply of construction products, while government should be more active in social housing.

“Government should embark on strategic infrastructure development and expansion that will boost the GDP and adopt modern procurement systems, procedures and processes to run the industry more efficiently.

“Apart from the traditional procurement system, government should adopt other formal procurement systems such as Design and Build Systems, Construction Management Systems and Project Management Systems,” he said.

He said government should encourage the use of up-to-date procurement documentation and digital technology in procurement, adding that greater promotion of health and safety in construction was also important to make construction more attractive.