STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING CONSTRUCTION COST PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION SITES

Maintaining steady cost projection on construction projects had been until recently an issue of serious concern, both to the client and project contractors. Cost deviation from initial Cost plan, had been prevalent on Construction sites. However, little or no efforts has made to curtail the phenomenon, it is against this background that this research work attempt to study the factors that are responsible, so as to identify them and proffer possible  ways of tackling the menace.
The study attempt this through chosen  construction practitioners as population and samples were drawn  to this effect at random from the category of professionals, using probability sampling methods. The Data were collected from primary source consisting of structured questionnaire designed in Likert Scale in rating Scale of 1 to 5, while the Secondary Data were collected through review of Journal articles and relevant Text books. The Data were analysed using Severity Index, Ranking and Simple Percentages. It was discovered from the analysis that factors such as Contractors inexperience, inadequate planning, Inflation, incessant variation order, and change in project design were critical to causing cost overrun, while project complexity, shortening of project period and fraudulent practices are also responsible. The study concluded with recommending, adequate planning using conventional techniques, Studying and applying project history, material bulk purchase, proper project design and establishing proactive fraud prevention system on sites, as panacea for effective cost performance on sites.
 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Construction industry in Nigeria had been a major source of employment for 70% of labour force in the country, thus it controls the capital flow, as well as labour resources, which has cost implications. Adequate management of these resources is considered an important aspect of project works; it determines to a large extent the overall success of project works. So also if the resources are adequately harnessed, issues that pertains to cost overrun would not arise which could result to variations and claims. Some firms rely on claim as a result of variation incurred during the course of the project execution and afterward evaluate their profit after incurring necessary and unnecessary cost on a project. This however has tendency of positioning such in a disadvantageous profit position. An effective cost management strategy is therefore necessary, this could be achieved through putting in place a proactive cost management strategy. (Love et al, 2005; Ogunsemi and Jagboro, 2005; Ferry et al, 1998). They described cost management system as a process that should be carried out throughout the life cycle of a project, from the inception to final completion and final payment to the contractor. In the light of this, the timeliness and cost effectiveness of various operation and decision carried out will determine to an extent the magnitude of cost that could be saved on the project. ( Kerzner, 2005; Ogunsemi and Jagboro, 2005).