‘Building and Construction sector can help stimulate the economy’

“Building and Construction sector can help stimulate the economy and generate employment on a massive scale, the surveyors have said. “- Daily Trust

The Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, QSRBN, stated this  at the 7th Building and Construction Economic Roundtable, BCERT7, held recently in Abuja.

The round table was organized to generate ideas from stakeholders in the industry and rub minds on how to move the nation’s economy forward.

Speaking at the summit, President of QSRBN, Mallam Murtala Aliyu emphasized that the construction sector is strategic in reflating any economy that has slid into recession as we currently have in Nigeria.

According to him, BCERT is to set and sustain overall national development agenda by maximising the contribution of the building and construction sector of the economy to the economy pyramid.

“BCERT 7 is the seventh edition of this round table and the focus this year is on global competitiveness of Nigeria’s quantity surveying in driving national development.

“As laudable as the objectives of BCERT are, the role of quantity surveying in putting Nigeria on the cutting-edge of Global Competitiveness should be interrogated.

“This amongst others, informed our choice of theme for this roundtable.” He said.

QSRBN president also noted  that no country can achieve sustainable economic growth and development without having its teeming youths employed and engaged in viable economic activities.

“Nigeria and indeed Africa must save our active and resourceful youth from moving to Europe for demeaning engagements, most of the time losing their lives in the Sahara or the Mediterranean Sea even before they get there.

“ The building and construction sector is therefore a target sector for this laudable policy.”

He urged  the Federal Government to place the Nigerian Economy on the right trajectory for sustainable growth and development through efficient resource management and drastic reduction of waste and leakages which have done incalculable harm to the economy of Nigeria.

“Sustainable economic development can be achieved through strict adherence to corporate governance, value for money principles, probity and accountability as a national ethos. As a result of the indulgences of the past, practices that are unacceptable in many jurisdictions are celebrated in Nigeria.

“Where the ‘end’ is often used to justify the ‘means’, there is a problem of ethical orientation.  The solution will therefore be found in putting in place effective legislations and building of strong institutions.  Strong institutions of state that defy time and embedded in strong values to protect public good and interest at all times,” he said.

“Productivity is what drives growth and income levels. Corruption produces a quantum of unearned incomes thus creating scenarios where income levels do not correlate with productivity,” he noted.

Source: Daily Trust