Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the performance levels of small scale local government contractors (SSLGCs) in northern part of Nigeria with international practice. Previous studies focused attention primarily on benchmarking the performance of contractors, but were mostly conceptual rather than from empirical findings. This continuous to pose a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly, in developing countries like Nigeria. There is therefore a need to identify, assess and compare performance practice levels of small scale contractors. Design/methodology/approach The performance of each contractor was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale used in obtaining mean performance levels in respect to three classes of performance practices. A questionnaire survey was administered to major parties in the industry; clients, contractors and consultants who were selected by using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The contractors’ performance was compared by using ANOVA with post hoc. Findings The results indicated that the SSLGCs in Nigeria were average performers and there were effects and differences among the various contractors’ levels of performance with international practice. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to SSLGCs in northern part of Nigeria. Practical implications The study provided the criteria for evaluation of SSLGCs’ performance in Nigeria and other developing countries that faced similar problems. Social implications The study created bases for self-evaluation and competition among small scale contractors in Nigeria for the enhancement of productivity particularly in rural areas and general national development. Originality/value This study emanated from the governmental reports and past researches in the area of performance management on the persistence of the poor performance of small scale contractors in construction industry.

This study investigates how semiotics can be applied to enhance construction operatives’ health and safety (H&S) signs comprehension in Yola metropolis, Nigeria, with a view to improving on H&S management that will curtail the occurrence of accidents. Adopted ISO (9186-1) questionnaire for testing H&S signs comprehension were administered to 60 construction professionals and operatives that are executing 5 government building projects. Responses were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics respectively. Findings revealed that 11 of the 15 H&S signs studied ranked highly relevant for curbing accidents on construction sites while the remaining ranked relevant. For factors influencing H&S signs; training ranked highly influential, experience ranked influential, education ranked moderately influential. While culture, age and gender were ranked least influential respectively. The study recommends: contractors H&S safety compliance records be considered as one of the bases for contract award, safety consciousness be integrated in the overall procurement process, H&S requirements compliance certificate should be introduced and issue to compliant contracting firms, erring contractors on non-adherence to H&S provisions on construction sites be sanction, and construction operatives should be continuously train on H&S signs comprehension.

Abstract:The technical performance requirements of projects posed a challenge to the sustainable development of small size local government projects particularly in developing countries. Studies in the past focused mainly on the performance of major foreign construction firms mostly owned and operated by expatriates. Very few researches however, have been conducted to assess the relationship between major cost factors affecting technical performance of small size local government projects. This study is aimed at assessing the relationship between major cost factors that affect technical performance of small size local government projects in Nigeria. Survey instruments were administered to major stakeholders in the construction industry comprising of project clients, contractors and consultants using proportionate stratified random sampling method. A Warp partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) software algorithm was used for the analysis of collected data. The software is one of the powerful software for data analysis and has an advantage of providing p values based on the structure of the research model. The study concluded that cash flow problem, fraudulent practice and nature of construction environment are the major factors affecting technical performance of local government projects in Nigeria and further recommended the use of mediator variables like pay for performance and advance payment policy to minimise such negative effects. Governments in developing countries should devise a good cash flow policy and impose stringent penalties against any party involved in fraudulent activity.

Poor management practices of road transport assets posed a challenge to the sustainable development of the transport system in developing countries like Nigeria. Studies in the past focused mainly on the performance of road construction process. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0IR) on the road transport assets in developing countries such as Nigeria. The current study aimed at assessing the effect of the 4.0IR towards improving the management practice of road transport assets. Survey instruments were administered to project and facility managers in the Nigerian road construction sector of the economy using a proportionate random sampling technique. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used for data analysis utilising the Warp 7.0 partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) software algorithm. The software calculates p-values with WarpPLS based on non-parametric algorithms, resampling or stable algorithms and thus does not require that the variables to be normally distributed. The study concluded that the 4.0IR drivers have a moderate effect change on the management practice of road transport assets in Nigeria at the moment. The findings imply that management of road assets in Nigeria would moderately improve due to the 4.0IR technologies resulting in transport, safety and general efficiency and effectiveness of road networks in Nigeria. The study identified the 4.0IR drivers to include robotics, mobility, virtual and augmented reality, Internet of things and cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain, three-dimensional (3D) printing drones that are built with an attached 3D printer (the drone hangs a 3D printing nozzle that has fed plastic, concrete mix or other material from a tube connected to the top of the drone's printing path that precisely plotted by software, for a promised printing accuracy of 0.1 mm) and digital engineering. This study emanated from the government reports and past studies in the area of road transport asset management practice which the study investigated the major causes of poor practices and assessed the effect of the 4.0IR on the practice.

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