The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has urged newly inducted members to uphold integrity, competence and accountability in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.

President of the NIQS, Dr Aminu Bashir, gave the charge at the induction ceremony held in Abuja, describing the event as a significant milestone in the lives of the new members and the growth of the profession.

He said quantity surveyors play a critical role in ensuring value, accountability and cost efficiency in the built environment, describing the profession as the “conscience of cost” in construction. According to him, the responsibility of quantity surveyors goes beyond preparing bills and managing project costs, particularly in a country where public trust in contract and project costs is often limited.

The NIQS president urged the new members to prioritise competence and continuous learning, warning against allowing professional titles to outrun knowledge and practical skills. “Be honest when it is inconvenient,” he said, advising them to resist pressure to inflate figures, understate variations or overlook professional lapses.

Bashir also called on quantity surveyors to become more visible in nation-building and participate actively in decisions on infrastructure, policy and development. He urged the new members to remain loyal to the institute by participating in its programmes and contributing to its growth.

“You did not just acquire a title today. You inherited a responsibility,” he said, while congratulating the new members and welcoming them into the NIQS.

The Chairman of the Association of Consulting Quantity Surveyors, Adamu Yanda, who spoke on the theme, “From Professional Qualification to Professional Responsibility: Ethics, Competence and Service in Quantity Surveying Practice,” said professional qualification was only the beginning of a quantity surveyor’s career, stressing that responsible conduct was necessary to earn and sustain the confidence of clients, colleagues and society.

According to him, the certificate issued to new members represents not only proof of competence but also a declaration of trust, requiring them to exercise sound judgment, provide honest advice and protect resources placed under their professional care. “Technical competence may secure an opportunity, but integrity sustains a professional career,” Yanda said.

He warned quantity surveyors against manipulating figures, inflating valuations, approving incomplete work or compromising professional judgment under pressure. Yanda said the real test of professional ethics often arose when honesty could result in the loss of an opportunity, delayed payment or disagreement with influential persons.

He advised professionals to rely on contracts, regulations, professional standards and verifiable records when faced with improper instructions. Yanda also urged new members to pursue continuous professional development, noting that good intentions could not substitute for professional knowledge, careful analysis and sound judgment.

The consulting Quantity Surveyor said the profession was changing beyond traditional measurement and bill preparation to include strategic cost management, procurement advisory, risk management, sustainability and digital project delivery.

He identified Building Information Modelling, digital measurement, cloud-based collaboration, data analytics and artificial intelligence as technologies reshaping construction practice. However, he cautioned that technology could not replace professional judgment, stressing that quantity surveyors remained responsible for verifying information and interpreting results.

Speaking on Nigeria’s construction industry, Yanda said inadequate planning, cost escalation, delayed payments and weak procurement processes had placed quantity surveyors at the centre of critical financial and contractual decisions.

He warned against preparing unrealistic estimates merely to satisfy predetermined budgets, saying such practices could result in cost overruns, disputes, delays and abandoned projects. Yanda charged the newly inducted members to protect their integrity, remain competent, be fair, accountable and committed to serving the profession and society.

“Your induction today confers recognition, but your conduct from tomorrow will determine the value of that recognition,” he said. “Do not pursue success at the expense of professional honour.”

He also urged members to participate actively in the institute, mentor younger colleagues and contribute to the responsible use of resources and the development of Nigeria’s built environment.