Politics
THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) have taken steps to formalise over a decade of strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public infrastructure sector.
This followed a courtesy visit by the NIQS President, QS Dr. Aminu M. Bashir, FNIQS who led members of the Institute’s National Executive Council to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on April 22, 2026.
Central to the engagement was a shared commitment to institutionalising the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would provide a structured legal and operational framework for joint anti-corruption interventions.
Receiving the delegation, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the proposed MoU as a natural progression of an already impactful relationship, particularly under the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).
He noted that the technical expertise of NIQS professionals has significantly enhanced the Commission’s capacity to detect contract inflation, identify abandoned projects, and ensure value for money in public expenditure.
The Chairman also referenced ongoing inter-agency collaboration through a joint technical framework with the Institute of Mortgage Brokers and Lenders of Nigeria (IMBLN), underscoring the Commission’s commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms that safeguard public resources.
In his remarks, Dr. Bashir traced the partnership’s evolution since 2015, highlighting key milestones including joint professional engagements and the nationwide deployment of NIQS experts under CEPTI.
He noted that members of the Institute have, over the years, provided pro bono services in cost verification, forensic quantity surveying, and project monitoring across the six geopolitical zones—efforts that have contributed to safeguarding trillions of naira in public funds and facilitating the completion of critical infrastructure projects.
He further advocated for the adoption of the International Cost Management Standards (ICMS) and the development of unified national standards for Bills of Quantities (BOQs) to strengthen cost transparency and prevent procurement-related fraud.
Both institutions expressed optimism that the proposed MoU would consolidate existing gains and usher in a more structured, sustainable phase of collaboration in advancing integrity in public sector project delivery.
A.I
April 23, 2026
Tags: Dr. Aminu M. Bashir FNIQS ICPC Musa Adamu Aliyu