Improving Maintenance Culture And Quality Of Public Properties In Nigeria (A Case Study Of Akwa Ibom International Stadium)
Abstract
This study was carried out on the improving maintenance culture and quality of public properties in Nigeria. The study was limited to Akwa Ibom international stadium. The research design used for this study was the descriptive research design. The population for this study are employees of Akwa Ibom international stadium, Uyo. The population figure for the study was 32 respondents, comprising of Akwa Ibom international stadium staff from various departments such as operations, finance, administration etc.
Data for this study was collected from the respondents through the use of questionnaires. Various analytical tools and software such as pie charts, bar charts, tables, and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software were used in analyzing data for this study. The results showed that Nigerians exhibit poor maintenance culture for public properties, Government should do more in the enhancement of quality of public properties. The study recommended that there should be National policy on maintenance culture that would be effective at the three tiers of government.
Table Of Contents
Preliminary Page(s)
Title page i
Certification page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of content
Chapter One:
Introduction
1.1 Background To The Study
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
1.3 Objectives Of The Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.6 Significance Of The Study
1.7 Scope/Limitations Of The Study
Chapter Two:
Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Concept Of Building Maintenance
2.4 Performance Measurement
2.5 Maintenance Management
2.6 Culture
2.7 Maintenance Culture
2.8 Maintenance In Developing Countries
2.9 Maintaining The Quality Of Public Properties
Chapter Three:
Research Methodology
3.1 Study Area
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Population Of The Study
3.4 Population Size And Technique
3.5 Data Collection Method
3.6 Data Analysis
3.7 Limitation
Chapter Four:
Data Presentation, Analysis And Interpretation
Chapter Five
Conclusion And Recommendations
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendations
References
Appendix
Questionnaire Administration
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background To The Study
The Advanced Learners Dictionary defines maintenance as the process of protecting or preserving someone or something, or the process of keeping something in good condition. Culture, on the other hand, is a way of life, a lifestyle, customs, traditions, habits that portray the attributes of a person/people.
Maintenance culture is an attitude which is sadly lacking in Nigeria, whether in the home, office, school or factory. Mbamali (2003) added that poor maintenance culture has become a widely recognized problem in Nigeria which has poorly affected the quality of public properties.
Public property is property that is dedicated to public use and is a subset of state property. The term may be used either to describe the use to which the property is put, or to describe the character of its ownership (owned collectively by the population of a state). This is in contrast to private property, owned by an individual person or artificial entities that represent the financial interests of persons, such as corporations. State ownership, also called public ownership, government ownership or state property, are property interests that are vested in the state, rather than an individual or communities (Wikipedia, 2015).
Maintenance culture in Nigeria is one of the lowest around the world, especially, in our principal towns and cities where the majority of public properties are located. In the rural areas, the story is different and pleasant to hear. The traditional practice of communal clearing of community owned places such as market playground is in almost every village and in private homes. Also, it is customary to refurbish building interiors with mixtures of cow dung or natural red clay. The end result is attractive and totally indigenous. According to Wahab (1995) the nation accords low priority to property management leading to neglect of public properties. Mbamali (2003) asserted that we have no maintenance policy and therefore no such culture exists.
Neglect of maintenance has accumulated consequences in rapid increase in the deterioration of the fabric and finishes of a building, accompanied by a harmful effect on the contents occupants Seeley, (1987). Inadequate maintenance culture is a peculiar feature of almost every public building in Nigeria. According to Rotimi and Mtallib (1995) is partly due to poor maintenance culture on one hand and partly due to the absence of an appropriate benchmark. Gurjit (1990) asserted that lack of proper maintenance culture bring the life of these public building last before reaching the total obsolescence state. The declining maintenance culture in Nigeria and its effect on public buildings and all other properties has become a major problem to the government at various levels. This study examines ways of improving maintenance culture and its effect on quality of public properties
A great portion of a nation wealth is evident in the total value of its public properties and buildings; it is also an important factor in the production of the building to be preserved. A poorly maintained building in a decaying environment depresses the quality of live and contributes in some measures to anti social behaviour which threatens the socio” political environment it finds itself in
According to Stephen (2002) public properties services rarely perform as well as desired. The causes emanate from deficiencies in design, construction, commissioning and maintenance, many researchers have also observed that the generators of maintenance problems could be looked upon has caused during the design stage or construction stage or initiated during the usage stage or the user’s carefree attitudes (Bad maintenance culture) which will eventually deteriorate the condition of the property.
He further said that all these could be planned for during the design stage. Maintenance problems though do manifest during the use of the building, their causes might be during the design stage. These made Dekker (2002) to assert that thinking on the maintenance should start in the design phase. According to Speight (2000), it is at the design stage that the maintenance burden can be positively influenced for better or for worse. Where the designer fails to make adequate consideration for minimizing maintenance problems, it always turns out to be a big problem when the building is eventually occupied for usage, the consideration for effective maintenance as one of the parameters for the building design. Seeley (1997) also said that a skilful design can reduce the amount of maintenance work and also make it easier to perform, since good maintenance begins on the drawing board.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
Oladimeji (1996) further described maintenance of public properties as the combination of any continuous actions carried out to retain a property in or restore it to an acceptable condition. Onwuka (1989) stated that maintenance culture is concerned with the planning and control of construction resources to ensure that necessary repairs and renewal are carried out with maximum efficiency and economy to enhance the quality of the property. However, the researcher is examining the ways of improving maintenance culture and quality of public properties in Nigeria.
1.3 Objectives Of The Study
The following are the objectives of this study:
To examine ways of improving maintenance culture in Nigeria.
To determine ways of enhancing the quality of public properties through improved maintenance culture.
To determine the factors affecting maintenance culture in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
What are the ways of improving maintenance culture in Nigeria?
What are the ways of enhancing the quality of public properties through improved maintenance culture?
What are the factors affecting maintenance culture in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance Of The Study
The following are the significance of this study:
The findings from this study will educate the government and policy makers, stakeholders in building and the general public on the need for improvement in maintenance culture as a way of improving the quality of public property.
This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic
1.7 Scope / Limitations Of The Study
This study on improving maintenance culture and quality of public properties in Nigeria will cover the attitude of Nigerians to the adequate maintenance of public properties, looking at ways to improve maintenance culture with a view to improve the quality of public properties.
Limitation Of Study
Financial constraint
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint
The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
Chapter Five
Findings, Summary And Conclusions
The objectives of the study were to:
To examine ways of improving maintenance culture in Nigeria.
To determine ways of enhancing the quality of public properties through improved maintenance culture.
To determine the factors affecting maintenance culture in Nigeria.
5.1 Conclusion
This study examined the improving maintenance culture and quality of public properties in Nigeria. The study was limited to Akwa Ibom international stadium. Poor leadership, lack of maintenance policy, attitudinal problem and corruption are identified among others as the major causes of poor maintenance. Different maintenance strategies that could be adopted to retain and continuously keep facilities in a safe and good working condition were examined.
Findings from the study revealed that
Nigerians exhibit poor maintenance culture for public properties.
Government should do more in the enhancement of quality of public properties.
There are challenges to effective maintenance culture in Nigeria.
Effective maintenance culture is capital intensive
5.2 Recommendations
On personal levels, we must imbibe maintenance culture in order to enjoy the best of our assets with a view to enjoying the best of life. How well we use and enjoy our facilities such as buildings, machines, cars, households equipment, furniture or public physical assets or our bodies depend, largely, on how well we imbibe the culture of maintenance (Ajibola, 2009).
Based on the above observations, the following recommendations are hereby considered:
There should be National policy on maintenance culture that would be effective at the three tiers of government
Maintenance culture, as a course of instruction, should be introduced into all levels of Nigeria Education Curriculum
Each state should, as a matter of duty, formulate maintenance policies that would guide its operational activities to enhance effectiveness and efficiency
Leadership selection should be by merit rather than favouritism or tribalism because accomplishment of maintenance goals hangs on leadership
A functional and workable anti-corruption system should be designed and installed in both private and public organisations with a view to preventing corrupt practices
Facility manager or officer should be appointed to continuously keep assets or facilities in good working condition
People should be sensitized and encouraged to embrace maintenance culture for the betterment of our dear nation.
