He has served Nigeria in several capacities including that of the Minister of State for Power and Steel (2001 to 2002) during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. He was a member of the Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (1999 to 2001), member Governing Council, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (2003 to 2007) and pioneer member of the Governing Council, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa (2007 to 2009). He was a member of the Niger State Plan Implementation Committee (1984 to 1986) and member Gombe State Investment Company (1999 to 2001).
The unassuming Murtala Aliyu is a graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he earned a BSc in Quantity Surveying (1982). He also holds an MBA (1993) from the same citadel of learning. He was an alumnus of Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State (1973-1978), and equally attended Bolari Primary School, Gombe, completing in 1973.
He is a founding partner and current Chairman of Associated Cost Consultants (ACC). Founded in 1985 by Late Salihijo Ahmad, Associated Cost Consultants is a Nigerian firm of practicing Quantity Surveyors established to provide consultancy services in the Construction and Heavy Engineering industries.
With a vast expertise and background of specialist skills from decades of experience, we are well placed to provide Cost, Contract and Project Management services in conventional contracting arrangements. The range of services offered includes Quantity Surveying Services, Project Management, Feasibility Studies, Procurement, Supervision and Contract Administration.
We are a member of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. To facilitate the exchange of technical data, information and experience when the need arises, we have working partnerships with professional firms in the United Kingdom.
According to this business guru, ‘’at ACC, we pride ourselves on our professional approach to delivering projects. In everything we do, we work to ensure our clients obtain the optimal outcome possible. Our mission is to provide our clients quality consultancy with reliability and timeliness. We always strive to achieve and live up to the highest ethical standards of our profession.
‘’ACC will work tirelessly to become vested partners in the systems and processes that make our clients successful, competitive and comfortable within their markets. We will assist our clients in meeting and exceeding their full potential; helping them to make systemic changes in areas they have identified as important’’, adding, ‘’ACC is dedicated to implement technology solutions that make a positive difference for the clients we serve.’’
Also, he is a founding Director of Afri-Project Consortium (APC), a professional service firm of recognised leaders in engineering and consultancy services. The strength of its certified professionals enables the Consortium to provide quality professional services in the fields of Engineering, Project Management and Project Financing.
‘’Since 1990, we have consolidated our range of expertise and experience through the successful deployment of professional services in several projects and engagements of national and international standing. This has placed us as a leading consultancy in projects management and technical services’’, Murtala Aliyu says.
Services provided on its projects include Design and Supervision of diverse Building and Engineering Projects, Procurement Services, Projects Control, Projects Management, Contracts Administration, Feasibility & Projects Financing, Legal & Regulatory Framework and Monitoring & Evaluation.
While APC has evolved and grown over the past two decades, the values by which it conducts its business has never changed. APC has a strong commitment to provide the expertise to help its clients achieve their goals by combining time proven consulting and engineering practices with the flexibility to take advantage of its deep knowledge of the country and its rapidly changing business and technological environment.
APC is registered with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and is also a key member of the Association of Consulting Engineering Firms in Nigeria (ACEN).
In recognition of its effective service delivery, APC and its consultants have been recipients of several prestigious awards of merit and excellence by the Federal Government of Nigeria and various national and professional bodies. Our commitment to execute projects with highest quality, on schedule and within budget while adhering to excellent standards and ethical practice positioned APC to be recognised as an icon in the consulting industry in Nigeria.
The mercurial Murtala Aliyu has had hands on experience in the handling of several projects including: all aspects of project intervention, feasibility, planning and processes for project implementation for the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (1996 to 1999). He also established and organised the Works Department of the Federal University of Technology, Minna as the pioneer professional staff (1984 to 1986). He has participated in the DFID supported SLGP, SPARC and PAK for the MDGs Conditional Grants Programmes among others.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian institute of Quantity Surveyors (FNIQS), Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), and Member, Nigerian Institute of Directors, UK. Currently, he is an Executive Consultant (Business Development) with Afri-Project Consortium and chaired the board of Woodkraft Ltd, Kaduna from 2013 to 2017. He was also the Vice Chairman and later Chairman, Deap Capital Management and Trust Plc.
Aliyu is also a past President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) and a past Vice President and currently the President Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (QSRBN). He is on the board of various private companies.
QSRBN is however, the regulatory body of the quantity surveying profession and practice in Nigeria. It was established by Decree No. 31 of December 5, 1986, now CAP Q1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004. While its vision is to be the best Quantity Surveying Regulatory body in Africa and one of the best in the world, its mission is concerned with making professional ethics, competence, integrity and the pursuit of value-for-money, probity and accountability the central focus in our regulatory role within the Nigerian economy.
QSRBN Mandate: Determining who are quantity surveyors for the purpose of the enabling Act; determining what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become registered as quantity surveyors and raising those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit; securing in accordance with the provisions of the enabling Act, the establishment and maintenance of Register of persons entitled to practise as quantity surveyors and the publication from time to time of list of those persons; regulating and controlling the practice of the quantity surveying profession in its entire ramification; and perform such other functions that may be conferred on the Board by the enabling Act.
The Board of QSRBN is made up of eminent professionals from the Quantity Surveying industry in Nigeria. They are appointed to the Board in accordance with the act of the Board
The criteria for board membership include: Five persons to be appointed by the Minister of whom one shall be appointed from Ministry under his control and the other persons from amongst other interests in the field of quantity surveying covered by the Decree which in the minister’s opinion are not adequately represented.
Five persons elected by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors in the manner for the time being provided by the constitutions of that body; and our persons to represent the Universities and other institutions of higher education (including technical colleges) offering courses leading to an approved qualification in Nigeria having faculties of quantity surveying and each institution having no more than one representative at a time.
Aliyu contested for the gubernatorial seat in Gombe state under People Democratic Party in 2003 and All Progressives Congress in 2015, but emerged as the Sectarery-Geranel of Arewa Consultative Forum in 2020
