AN APPRAISAL OF MAINTENANCE PRACTICE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION

AN APPRAISAL OF MAINTENANCE PRACTICE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION

(A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA)

ABSTRACT

Many studies have focused on maintenance of public and residential buildings, with only few on tertiary institution buildings. Tertiary institution requires maintenance in order to have a conducive environment to support and stimulate learning, teaching, innovation, and research. Therefore, a well maintained building is needed for this objectives. This study appraises the maintenance practice of tertiary institution (a case study of Federal University of Technology, Minna). The data analysed are physical observation, structured questionnaires to the users of the building (academic, non-academic staff and students) and maintenance staff.  129 questionnaires were returned out of the total of 150, The findings revealed that the University is averagely maintained and tends to adopt the CORRECTIVE maintenance in which the users have to report a defect before it being rectified, italso identified that abuse of the building component is the major cause of maintenance problem and electrical installation have the most frequent problem. The study recommend that the institution should that the maintenance department should play an active role in educating the users of these facilities on the importance and of maintenance to avoid the abuse of building component, and also adopt a maintenance policy.

CHARPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A building requires maintenance to ensure its optimal performance over its life cycle. The value of a building from the user’s perspective can be viewed as the measure of how efficiently and effectively a building meets the users’ needs with the available resources (Arazi, Khamidi & Olanrenwaju, 2009).

 Oladapo, (2005) stated that buildings are required to provide a conducive and safe environment for various human activities. This essentially, is the question of function. The extent to which the buildings provide the required environment for the required activity is a measure of the functionality of the building.

According to Iyagba & Adenuga, (2003) it is impossible to produce buildings which are maintenance free, but maintenance work can be minimized by good design proper workmanship carried out by skilled expert and method. Management of any process involves assessing performance, and maintenance management of building is no exception (Turell, 1997). Performance of tertiary institution buildings and their components depends to large extent on continuous and planned periodic maintenance, which challenges the management and the maintenance managers, to institute precise planning based on a well structure maintenance programme (Shohet, 2002). Seeley (1976) stated that it is highly desirable to produce maintenance free building; the task according to the study is hardly feasible. Amusan (2003) opined that all elements of houses deteriorates at a greater rate or lesser rates dependent on the material, design adequacy quality of workmanship environmental condition; function and use of building the economic boom of seventies and eighties made the country to witness rapid development.

Tertiary institution is considered throughout the world to be key to both individual and societal aspirations. For individuals, education beyond the secondary level is assumed to be the way to societal esteem, better paying jobs, expanded life options, intellectual stimulation and frequently a good time in the pursuit of the above. For societies, tertiary institution is assumed to be the key to technology, productivity and the other ingredients of international competitiveness and economic growth. It faces immediate pressure to preserve existing college of its campuses and enhances the capacity of its higher education system to address growing demands. In order to serve the current population of students, tertiary institution must maintain, renovate, and expand their building where necessary to meet up to standard. This poses some difficulties to maintenance programme because of the expenditure from the government is not adequate, and tied to strict financial regulations and payment control system (Akinsola, Hussaini, Oyenuga & Fatokun, 2012)

Most tertiary institutions in Nigeria have suffered from lack of adequate maintenance practice; while the requirements for good practice in maintenance management of  building stock have been established over a considerable period, the achievement of good practice is by no means universal (Turell, 1997). Maintenance of built environment like tertiary institution or any public building has a great impacts on the whole nation. The condition of the environment in which we live and learn, is a reflection of the nations well-being also reflects public pride or indifference, the level of prosperity in the area, social values and behavior and all the many influences both past and present which combine to give a community its unique character (Lee, 2001). Maintenance of building has been identified as one of the key areas in which the construction industry must achieve significant improvement (Neely & Neathammer, 1991).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The neglect of maintenance has a cumulative effect with rapidly increasing deterioration of components of a building resulting to harmful effects on the occupants and contents of the building. Most tertiary institutions have improper maintenance, some even lack maintenance since they were constructed and this has resulted in most of them suffering from dilapidation with others being completely abandoned. Lack of maintenance of buildings has become a very serious problem and is a serious hindrance to the development of the nation. This lack of maintenance by the maintenance department often leads to reduced lifespan of these buildings (Melvin, 1992), which invariably defeat the purpose for which they are put up i.e. to ensure that the nation’s stock of buildings, both as a factor of production and accommodation, was used effectively as possible.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In embarking upon such study, certain questions should be answered before any credible conclusions can be drawn. The following questions were posed.

1. What type of maintenance practice do adopted?
2. What is the current condition of buildings?
3. How often is inspection carried out?
4. Do they have a maintenance policy?

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.4.1 Aim

The research work is aimed at an appraisal of maintenance practice of tertiary institution (a case study of Federal University of Technology, Minna).

1.4.2 Objectives

To achieve the above stated aim, the following objectives are to be considered:-

1. To assess the maintenance practice of the tertiary institution.
2. To assess the current condition of building in tertiary institution.
3. To make suggestions and recommendation towards the adoption of effective maintenance policy.

1.5 METHODOLOGY

This research is based on primary empirical data collection and secondary data collection method. The primary data was derived from physical observation, administration of designed questionnaires for users (Students, Academic staff and Non-academic staff) and maintenance staff of tertiary institutions (Federal University of Technology Minna).

The secondary data method adopted in this research is by detail review of post related works adopted using text books, journals and internet.

The data obtained from physical inspection, questionnaires and interview were then analysed for consistencies to come out with result and recommendations.

 1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This research limited to the maintenance practice of Federal University of Technology Minna. This is done by appraising the maintenance practice of the University, to know the type of maintenance carried out, through physical observation and administration of questionnaires.

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