1.0 Introduction
As the name suggests, the functions and mandates of the Department of HMG&QC are no doubt critical and important to the operations of the Ministry because it provides the hub of quality assessment and control of road designs, construction materials, construction processes/procedures, road maintenance quality, road use monitoring and road furniture of Federal roads in line with international best practices. This will no doubt ensure that high quality is attained for federal roads throughout its service year. The HMG&QC Department has some research laboratories known as Pavement Evaluation Units (PEU) located in Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, Sheda, Jos, Gombe and Ugoneki which are designed to offer services to the industry and to carry out quality control tests for on-going road projects and quality assurance tests for completed road projects.
1.1 Functions and Responsibilities of HMGQC
The following are the functions and responsibilities as part of the mandate of the Department:
(i) Setting standards, specifications and procedures for quality control on project sites;
(ii) Interpretation of specification;
(iii) Review of materials and construction methods;
(iv) Monitoring and vetting of reports prepared and submitted by Materials and Geotechnics Engineering Design Consultants on materials testing and geotechnics on roads and bridge locations;
(v) Conducting laboratory and field quality control tests on materials for road projects through its various Pavement Evaluation Units and Civil Engineering laboratories;
(vi) Administration and management Control of Pavement Evaluation Units;
(vii) Carrying out routine comprehensive pavement evaluation on on-going road projects;
(viii) Carrying out tests on relatively new materials such as stabilizers for use in road construction and providing short highways pavement sections (trial sections) for performance/pilot studies where necessary, in liaison with relevant Zonal directorate;
(ix) Carrying out pavement designs using standard methods in liaison with the Department of Highways, Road Design;
(x) Testing, supervising and approving all deep soil investigations at Bridge sites in liaison with the Bridge Department;
(xi) Verifying the adequacy of the submissions on monthly progress reports on on-going federal road projects;
(xii) Regular capacity building (training) on highways construction materials testing and pavement assessment;
(xiii) Liaising with other engineering agencies on construction material testing, design of new products, etc;
(xiv) Verifying the adequacy of material laboratory tests before the payment of Interim Statements;
(xv) Participation in final inspection and handing over of Highway projects;
(xvi) Effective monitoring and issuance of quality assurance certificate for Interim statement of highways projects;
(xvii) Evaluation and enforcement of constructional safety on all Federal road projects;
(xviii) Participation in the issuance of final maintenance certificate;
(xix) Participation in preparation of contract Bill of Engineering Measurement & Evaluation (BEME), RBEME and Augmentation.
1.2 Staffing and Organogram
In order to re-position the Department for effective and efficient delivery of its mandate, the zone is presently having a total of 38 Engineers/Technical officers in the headquarters’ in line with the approved organogram, and as outlined in the table below. The organogram of the current structure of the department attached overleaf.
| Cadre |
Total Number |
| Directorate |
6 |
| Civil Engineer |
20 |
| Technical Officer |
12 |
| Total |
3 |
Staff Requirements
Presently, there are 43 (Forty-three) members of staff in the department (both North and South).
A. Director Highways (MG&QC): Overseeing the affairs of the zones and any other assignments/duties that may be given by the Coordinating Director to move the zone forward. The primary duties of the Director are: as follows:
(i) Initiating policy on the setting of standards and procedures for quality control on project sites including interpretation of specifications;
(ii) Approval of soil & materials reports prepared and submitted by consultants on Highway projects;
(iii) Approval of laboratory and field quality control tests on materials and other works conducted by Pavement Evaluation Units.
(iv) Any other approvals as deemed necessary for quality control and assurance on Highway projects, and
(v) Any other duty as may be assigned by the Coordinating Director.
B. Deputy Director Highways (MG&QC) – South: The Deputy Director (HMG&QC) – South covers States in South West, South East and South South geopolitical zones on the following duties:
(i) Assisting the Director in setting of standards and procedures for quality control on project sites;
(ii) Vetting of soil and material reports of any kind (either from the PEU, Project sites, Design Consultant, etc);
(iii) Vetting of Progress reports forwarded by the ER”s to the HMG&QC Department to enable it monitor quality control compliance;
(iv) General supervision of Pavement Evaluation Units and vetting of laboratory and field quality control tests on materials submitted by the Units;
(v) Assisting the Director in initiating policies and programme for the department;
(vi) Vetting of new materials and additives for improvement of road construction materials as submitted by consultants or companies;
(vii) Representing the Director on final road projects inspections prior to handing over, and
(viii) Any other duty as may be assigned by the Director.
C. Deputy Director Highways (MG&QC) – North: The Deputy Director (HMG&QC) – North covers States in North West, North Central and North East geopolitical zones on the following duties:
(i) Assisting the Director in setting of standards and procedures for quality control on project sites;
(ii) Vetting of soil and material reports of any kind (either from the PEU, Project sites, Design Consultant, etc);
(iii) Vetting of Progress reports forwarded by the ER”s to the HMG&QC Department to enable it monitor quality control compliance;
(iv) General supervision of Pavement Evaluation Units and vetting of laboratory and field quality control tests on materials submitted by the Units;
(v) Assisting the Director in initiating policies and programme for the department;
(vi) Vetting of new materials and additives for improvement of road construction materials as submitted by consultants or companies;
(vii) Representing the Director on final road projects inspections prior to handing over, and
(viii) Any other duty as may be assigned by the Director.
