By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), have renewed their strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Commission’s Conference Hall in Abuja.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Acting Chairman, FRC, Charles Chukwuemeka Abana, warmly welcomed the President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Dr. Aminu Mohammed Bashir, and members of his delegation to the Commission.
In a statement, Abana was said to have expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Institute for the courtesy visit and for the goodwill extended to him following his recent appointment as Acting Chairman of the Commission.
He described the visit as a demonstration of the cordial and productive relationship that has existed between the two institutions over the years.
The Acting Chairman also congratulated Dr. Bashir on his recent election as President of the NIQS, describing his emergence as a reflection of his professional competence, wealth of experience, and the confidence reposed in him by members of the Institute.
According to him, the partnership between the FRC and NIQS has remained mutually beneficial and strategically important in promoting transparency, accountability, prudence, and value-for-money principles in public financial management.
He noted that the first MoU signed between the two institutions on October 22, 2021, significantly strengthened the Commission’s capital projects verification exercises through the technical expertise and professional support consistently provided by the Institute.
He commended NIQS for nominating competent professionals to participate in verification exercises across the country, thereby enhancing the quality, credibility, and effectiveness of the process.
Abana further acknowledged the Institute’s contributions to capacity building through specialized training programmes for Commission staff involved in project verification assignments, noting that such interventions have deepened technical knowledge and improved operational efficiency.
He said the renewal of the MoU represents not only the continuation of an existing partnership but also a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting fiscal discipline, accountability, professionalism, and the efficient utilization of public resources.
The Acting Chairman disclosed that the Institute had already submitted a list of its nominees to participate in the Commission’s 2026 Capital Projects Verification Exercise scheduled to commence next month.
He expressed optimism for another successful exercise and sustained collaboration in the years ahead.
He also assured the NIQS of the Commission’s continued support and readiness to work closely with the Institute in advancing their common objectives for national development.
The renewal of the MoU represents not only the continuation of an existing partnership but also a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting fiscal discipline, accountability, professionalism, and the efficient utilization of public resources.
Public resource management
In his remarks, the NIQS President described the relationship between the FRC and NIQS as one founded on a shared conviction that public resources must be managed with discipline, transparency, and professional rigor.
Dr Bashir explained that the first MoU, executed on October 22, 2021, gave institutional expression to this conviction and that the purpose of the current engagement was to renew and deepen the collaboration.
He commended the Commission for its strong institutional track record in advancing fiscal discipline and accountability across Nigeria’s public sector, describing its legacy of commitment as the foundation of a meaningful partnership.
The NIQS President also highlighted the critical role of Quantity Surveyors as Nigeria’s foremost construction cost managers, responsible for overseeing project costs from conception through procurement, contract administration, and final account settlement.
According to him, Quantity Surveyors operate at the precise intersection where public funds are either protected or lost.
He emphasized that they measure costs, verify values, detect inflationary practices, and provide forensic evidence where contracts have been manipulated, thereby supporting accountability and transparency.
Dr. Bashir noted that the Commission’s mandate of ensuring prudent and transparent public expenditure cannot be fully achieved without professional cost intelligence on capital projects, describing the collaboration between the two institutions as a functional necessity rather than a matter of convenience.
He stated that NIQS remains committed to supporting the Commission’s mandate through joint physical verification exercises to ensure that projects reported in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies’ (MDAs) budgets and expenditure returns accurately reflect realities on the ground.
He added that the Institute would also provide expertise in forensic cost auditing to detect contract inflation, value misrepresentation, and procurement irregularities, as well as contribute during pre-appropriation and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) review stages where fiscal risks are highest.
Furthermore, he pledged the Institute’s support in delivering specialized capacity-building programmes for FRC staff in areas such as construction economics, capital project cost management, procurement integrity, and forensic analysis of infrastructure expenditure.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the top management teams of both the FRC and NIQS, underscoring the significance of the partnership in strengthening fiscal accountability and promoting value for money in public expenditure across Nigeria.
