Due Process Compliance in Capital Projects Execution In Tertiary Institutions In Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study is an exploratory study of Project execution within tertiary institutions in the southwest part of Nigeria.  It specifically has as its focus the role of due process in projects handling in the selected educational institutions. Part of the concern of this study is to bring to the fore the roles being played by the due process mechanism in the timely completion and abandonment of capital projects in educational institutions since the inception of due process in the award of construction projects in the country. A total of 15 tertiary educational institutions that are under the control of the federal and state governments in Nigeria were considered for this study.  From these institutions, 74 completed, on-going and abandoned building projects were studied.  The findings revealed that though due process mechanisms were observed in the award process, many of the projects were either completed off time schedule and above cost estimate or abandoned out rightly due to lack of promptness in bid evaluation, contract award and certificate honouring, lack of compliance with due process provisions on advance payment deduction form valuations, fraudulence and corrupt practices in bid analysis and evaluation among others. The paper concludes by stressing the need for sincerity in the implementation of due process mechanisms by all concerned.

Keywords: Due process, construction cost, practical completion, building project, tertiary institution