This study investigates the level of efforts made by Nigerian contractors to maintain a healthy and safe work environment. The objectives are to determine the level of management efforts made by contractors on H&S and their correlation with H&S performance. To achieve these objectives, a field survey involving a sample of 40 contractors selected by stratified random sampling from the contractors registered with the Federation of Construction Industry of Nigeria was carried out. For the study, 6 H&S management variables and 7 H&S performance variables were selected. The H&S management variables are in compliance with H&S regulations, provision of H&S facilities, structures for managing H&S in head and site offices, provision of PPE and H&S incentives, while the H&S performance variables are respondents’ assessment of the performance of structures for managing H&S in head and site offices, accident, injury, accident per worker, injury per worker and injury per accident rates. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed by mean and Spearman correlation test. The results reveal that contractors’ efforts on structures for managing H&S on site are the best correlates of H&S performance, but their level is low. The levels of contractors’ efforts in provision of PPE, compliance with H&S regulations are high, but these efforts are not correlates of H&S performance. The levels of contractors’ efforts in structures for managing H&S in head office and provision of H&S incentives are low and they have low correlation with H&S performance. The study considers these results as indication that the management efforts made by Nigerian contractors to ensure a healthy and safe work environment are yet to have meaningful impact. It suggests increased efforts on local H&S regulations, structures for managing H&S in both head and site offices and provision of H&S incentives as measures for improving safety in the Nigerian construction industry. Santrauka Mokslinio tyrimo tikslas buvo gerinti sveikatos ir saugos darbe realizavimą Nigerijos statybų pramonėje. Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos Nigerijos rangovų pastangos išlaikyti sveiką ir saugią darbo aplinką. Siekiant šių tikslų, buvo atliktas praktinis tyrimas, kuriame dalyvavo 40 rangovų, atsitiktinai parinktų iš Nigerijos statybų pramonės federacijos registro. Buvo išrinkti šeši sveikatos ir saugos darbe valdymo kintamieji ir septyni sveikatos ir saugos darbe realizavimo kintamieji. Sveikatos ir saugos darbe valdymo kintamieji siejami su sveikatos ir saugos taisyklėmis, paslaugomis, valdymo struktūromis administracijoje ir statybos aikštelėse, asmens saugos priemonėmis, sveikatos ir saugos darbe skatinimu. Sveikatos ir saugos darbe realizavimo kintamieji yra respondentų sveikatos ir saugos darbe valdymo struktūros realizavimo įvertinimas tiek įmonės administracijoje, tiek statybos aikštelėse. Tai nelaimingi atsitikimai, susižeidimai, nelaimingų atsitikimų skaičius vienam darbuotojui, susižeidimų skaičius vienam darbuotojui ir sužeidimų skaičius per nelaimingų atsitikimų dažnį. Duomenys buvo renkami naudojant apklausas ir analizuojami naudojant vidutinę ir Spearman koreliacijas. Rezultatai parodė, kad rangovų valdymo kintamasis, sveikatos ir saugos valdymo struktūra valdyboje ir statybos aikštelėje geriausiai koreliuoja su sveikatos ir saugos darbe realizavimu, tačiau jų lygis yra žemas. Rangovų pastangos aprūpinti asmeninėmis saugos priemonėmis siejasi su sveikatos ir saugos darbe taisyklėmis, tačiau jos nekoreliuoja su sveikatos ir saugos darbe realizavimu. Teigiama, kad rangovų pastangos yra menkos. Šio tyrimo rezultatai laikomi kaip požymiai, kad Nigerijos rangovų pastangos užtikrinti sveikatą ir saugų darbą turi didelę įtaką. Siūloma laikytis sveikatos ir saugos taisyklių ir administracijoje, ir statybos aikštelėse, gerinti Nigerijos statybose dirbančių žmonių saugą.

Abstract. Contractors operating in Nigeria are classified as either indigenous or expatriates. The latter is often giving preference over the former in the award of contracts and stakeholders consider this practice unhealthy for growth and development. This study evaluates the influence of the quality performance of the two categories of contractors on their patronage. The objectives are to determine the level and difference in the patronage and quality performance of indigenous and expatriate contractors and the correlation between clients' assessment of the quality performance and patronage of indigenous and expatriate contractors in the Nigerian construction industry. To achieve these objectives, a field survey involving a sample of 43 clients selected from the population of organised clients in Nigeria was conducted. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The data collected were analysed to determine the ranking and test of difference in clients' patronage and clients' assessment of quality performance between the two categories of contractors using mean and t-test respectively. The correlation between patronage and quality performance was analysed using Spearman correlation test. The study established that expatriate contractors are being giving preference in the award of contracts. It also established that clients perceive the quality performance of expatriate contractors to be better than that of indigenous contractors and attributed the preference in patronage to this difference. It suggested that indigenous contractors should embark on measures that will improve their quality performance in order to stop the preference for expatriate contractors.

Research studies have discovered that outsourcing has several benefits and the practice is fast replacing in-sourcing especially with regard to construction consultants. In the attempt to examine the benefits of the two approaches on project outcome, this study investigates the influence of the use of in-sourced and outsourced consultants on project performance in Nigeria. The objectives are to determine the use of in-sourcing and outsourcing for selected consultants, compare the use of the two approaches in project delivery and their influence on project performance and compare the performance of projects in which in-sourced and outsourced selected consultants were engaged. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire design approach was adopted. A field survey involving a sample of 164 projects were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using percentage, mean, Spearman and t-tests. The results of the study reveal that clients engage both in-sourced and outsourced consultants in project development and that the practice has significant influence on project performance. It also discovered that the use of the two approaches has differing benefits on project delivery time and cost. The study concludes that in-sourcing and outsourcing are common practices in project development and that clients are facing a challenge in deciding which approach to adopt. The study also discovers that both approaches has benefits associated with project outcome and suggests that clients should consider these benefits in their decision to in-source or outsource consultants.

The issue of continual poor project performance in the construction industry remains unresolved and there is need for improvement. In view of improving project performance, the study aims at investigating the frequent causes of errors in construction contract documents. The survey research design and mixed research methods were used for the study. The respondents for the study consist of 86 consulting and 98 contracting firms that have been engaged on building projects that is above one floor between 2012 and 2015. Fifty one (51) interviews were also conducted on contractors, project managers and consultants on the projects they were involved and can equally provide necessary information for the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) was used for the analysis of the study. The study found that the frequent causes of the errors in contract documents are frequent design changes by clients, lack of adequate time to prepare documents and design management experience among others. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the causes of errors in contract documents vary from one state to the other. It was also concluded that there is difference in the causes of errors in contract documents based on types of building, services rendered by construction organisations and states in South West, Nigeria. However, there is no significant difference in the causes of errors in contract documents based on procurement method except where there is incomplete documentation or contracting organisations have overlapping activities. The study recommends that the frequent errors identified should always be prevented from occurring if cost and time overrun are to be minimized. Also since most of the causes identified are related to consultants, it was recommended as suggested by interviewees that all designs must go through quality assurance process.Keywords: Building projects, Construction, Contract documents, Errors, project performance

Purpose Service quality is a major determinant of business performance. Empirical evidence from the literature indicates that, to attain a high level of customer satisfaction, a high standard of service quality should be provided by the service provider. This study aims to examine the relationship between the perceived service quality and the indicators of client satisfaction with particular reference to engineering consultancy services in building projects. Design/methodology/approach A survey research approach was adopted using a semi-structured questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. The questionnaire survey formed the basis for the descriptive and inferential (Pearson correlation and multiple regression) statistics that were used to evaluate the relationship between engineering consultants’ service quality and clients’ satisfaction indicators. Findings The study identified 10 key technical indicators and 10 key managerial indicators for measuring client satisfaction. Statistical analysis shows a positive significant relationship between the perceived service quality and all the indicators of client satisfaction. The positive correlation values show that as perceived service quality increases, both technical and management indicators of client satisfaction equally increase. Originality/value The results offer opportunity for professional service providers to continuously develop the technical and management indicators, embrace personnel training and key into continuous professional development for better service quality.