Where There Is No Quantity Surveyor: The Dilemma Of Civil/Heavy Engineering Construction Project Delivery.

Abstract

In any construction where value for money is the watchword, the quantity surveyor, cost expert and economist of the construction industry are invaluable. But in Nigeria, the relevance/value and services of the quantity surveyor are not maximized especially in civil and heavy engineering projects. It is therefore hard to find consultant quantity surveyors in roads and bridges, petrochemical, oil and gas, rail and other heavy engineering projects. This is not acceptable in global best practice. Some argue that the quantity surveyors competence is limited to building and housing construction and has no competence to cost and manage engineering projects. This paper advocates that the quantity surveyor both by training and experience in construction and engineering technology has the competence to give and enable clients of all forms of construction project delivery to get value for their money. A comparative study approach using ten substructure projects was tabulated. It revealed that in projects where qualified professional quantity surveyor was not involved, clients and developers could not obtain value for money. Structured questionnaire was also administered to practitioners/stakeholders in the construction industry. Data collected was tested using z-score tool at 5% significance level. Respondents significantly agree that quantity surveying services are very relevant to successful delivery of Heavy Engineering construction projects. External threats from other profession usurping the duties of the quantity surveyor, lack of publicity of the quantity surveyor, ignorance of global best practices are some factors that contribute to the situation. An earlier proposal by The Federal Ministry of Works to create a separate department for quantity surveying in ministries requires a positive consideration.