The Impact of Due Process Policy on Construction Projects in South East Nigeria.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of due process policy on the award of contracts in Nigeria. In order to achieve this aim, the paper examined the procurement situation in the country before the advent of due process policy with a view to ascertaining the influence of due process on the award of contracts. Structured questionaires were distributed to workers of five notable construction companies in each of the five states in South East Nigeria, including federal government ministries and parastatals involved in the award and execution of contracts in Nigeria. In all, 548 well completed questionaires formed the basis of the study and were analyzed accordingly. The findings revealed that due process policy has to a reasonable extent succeeded in eliminating of sales of contract papers to touts and sychophants. As a result, the level of contract manourvers has reduced, the usual concept that my man is at the helm of affairs as a basis of getting a contract without following the procedures has been checkmated to a reasonable extent.  In conclusion, the paper  observed that no internal control is hundred percent water tight,  the study therefore advocated for the composition of procurement council as a panacea to further strengthen the procurement process. The composition of the council according to the paper is critical for proper administration and monitoring of contracts in Nigeria.

Keywords: due process,  Nigerian construction industries, procurement process, public      procurement, award of contracts, project failures and abandonement.