The Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria  has urged the Federal Government to make Project Cost Auditing mandatory for building and construction projects in Nigeria.

This is contained in a communiqué signed by Malam Husaini Dikko, and Mr Godson Moneke, President and Registrar of the council respectively at the end of its 2013 Induction and Annual Professional Clinic.

The communiqué said that the project cost auditing when integrate into building and construction sector,  would go a long way to reducing corruption in the sector.

It said that in the building and construction sector, the value of the project was synonymous with its capital cost of procurement, which was usually generated by the quantity surveyor.

It also stated that the National Assembly and state legislatures should be lobbied to institute project cost auditing into the construction procurement system.

“Contract Auditing/Contract Cost Auditing’ holds a pride of place among the tools available to the quantity surveyor toward achieving value-for-money.

“By virtue of their education and training, quantity surveyors are best-equipped to perform the function of project cost auditing.

“The nexus between Value-for-Money and Contract Auditing is very strong as expressed in their mutual variables of efficiency, effectiveness and economy, stressing that, “Value-for-Money, is about striking the best balance between the three Es – Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness.

“To ensure Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness in the fulfilment of building and construction projects, the cost auditor should be engaged reasonably early in the project, and the consultant, quantity surveyor must be involved.’’

It said that this would ensure value for money and lead to sustainable development.

It urged the governments and other major building and construction clients to always engage the services of construction cost experts to ensure that they got the best value-for-money.

“The pursuit of value-for-money as a national ethos should engage the priority of all stakeholders in the sector, stressing that “the challenge for change is enormous, but not insurmountable. The time to act for change is now.

“The various tiers of leadership must walk the talk and lead by example; thereby setting the right tone for the sustainable development of the building and construction sector,’’ it said.

The communiqué also recommended that in view of the paucity of funds amid competing needs, value-for-money should form the basis of public expenditure for optimum results.

It said that the board and registered practitioners alike should make concerted efforts to render construction costs comparable to those of similar environments.

It called on quantity surveyors to resist intimidation to alter the facts and recommend actions against their professional dictates; and they should be allowed to perform their functions in the national interest.