PUBLIC INSTITUTION BUILDINGS MAINTENANCE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Physical infrastructure accounts for a disproportionately large portion of the country's investment. It is therefore critical to maintain these facilities, which include public buildings, in order for them to continue serving the architectural and aesthetic functions for which they were designed. The physical appearance of buildings housing public institutions serves as a starting point for society's initial assessment of the quality of services to be provided.

One of the most serious issues plaguing Ghana's housing business is inadequate maintenance practices (Afranie & Osei Tutu, 1999). The importance of public institutions in the development of a country cannot be overstated. Despite the substantial investment in public buildings, public institutions allow their structures to care for themselves without establishing a sustainable maintenance program to maintain the buildings' quality. The continued efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions is contingent on the nature of their buildings, as well as other factors such as improved service conditions, provision of necessary tools, and so forth (Afranie & Osei Tutu, 1999).

There are two types of public institution buildings: dwellings (residential accommodation) and non-dwelling (office accommodation). Both residential and commercial buildings are prone to defects as a result of their continuous and prolonged use. All building components degrade at varying rates depending on the materials and methods of construction, the surrounding environment, and the intended use of the building (HMSO 1972).

According to Seeley 1987, neglect of maintenance has cumulative effects, resulting in rapid deterioration of a building's fabric and finishes, as well as adverse effects on its contents and occupants. As a result, buildings are far too valuable to be neglected in this manner. Maslow (1954) identified five fundamental wants that are grouped in escalating order of significance in his hierarchy of needs theory. He defined physiological demands as human beings' most fundamental need, which include access to oxygen, food, drink, shelter (housing), sex, and sleep.

BS 3811(1984) defines'maintenance' as "the collection of all technical and associated administrative actions intended to maintain or restore an item to a state that enables it to perform its required function."

Maintenance results in increased facility use while maintaining the highest safety requirements. It must be highlighted that more maintenance work, not less, is required to preserve the nation's building stock's worth and amenity. A well-maintained system is likewise a well-protected system against disasters. Additionally, a well-managed system of building and equipment maintenance has the effect of being a highly effective disaster mitigation measure in terms of cost and facility utilization. It assures the most cost-effective method of maintaining the building and its equipment in good condition for routine usage, given the original design and materials (http\\www.oas.org\en\cdmp).

Maintenance, which can also be defined as the continuous protective care of a place's fabric, contents, and settings, can be classified as corrective maintenance, which is required to bring a building up to an acceptable standard. Planned maintenance is work performed to avoid failure that occurs predictably over the life of a structure, such as gutter cleaning or painting. Emergency Corrective Maintenance is concerned with work that must be initiated immediately for health, safety, or security reasons or that, if left unattended, will result in rapid deterioration of the structure or fabric (for example, roof repairs after storm damage, graffiti removal, or repairing broken glasses) (Afranie & Osei Tutu, 1999).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

According to Okoh (2012), numerous public structures in Nigeria are routinely neglected, and windows, doors, and other architectural elements and amenities commonly exhibit signs of neglect and repair.

Certain residential and office buildings owned by public entities have received little or no upkeep since they were established, some going all the way back to the colonial era. As a result, many of these structures have become deteriorated, with some being abandoned. This lack of maintenance by the authorities and occupants of these facilities frequently results in a reduction in the life of these structures (Melvin, 1992), which invariably defeats the purpose for which they were erected, namely to ensure that the nation's stock of buildings was used as efficiently as possible as a factor of production and as housing.

The ownership issue with these structures, where tenants perceive them as state property and treat them carelessly, has primarily resulted in the situation in which the majority of public buildings find themselves. In other instances, inhabitants do not view the building as their property and hence have a passive attachment to the structure's effective usage and maintenance (Okoh 2012).

The majority of workplaces, particularly those located outside the capital city of Abuja, are outdated and lack basic requirements and amenities such as toilets as a result of the office's condition of degeneration. However, new structures are being constructed on a regular basis without regard for the neglected older structures. This researcher's frequent visits to the Ministries area, which houses these public institutions, reveal deplorable conditions in some of the buildings, including cracked walls, rotten wooden members, leaking roofs and missing louver blades, as well as faded and discolored surface coating (painting) (Okoh 2012).

In recent years, a lack of maintenance of some police buildings, including police cells, has resulted in jailbreaks at several police stations throughout the country, resulting in the escape of hardened criminals in custody, as well as some educational institutions, particularly primary schools, holding classes in the open air and subject to the elements.

Vital papers in a number of these public institutions have been destroyed as a result of poor building upkeep or non-maintenance. The deteriorating state of the residential facility has also exposed the tenants' personal property to the elements. These issues that arise as a result of the current state of building upkeep in the public sector diminish employee morale and contribute significantly to employee inefficiency (Benjamin 2013).

In light of these considerations, it was deemed necessary to conduct a study of public building maintenance in Nigeria in order to ascertain the factors that contribute to the current state of buildings in public institutions, as building owners increasingly recognize that it is not in their best interests to conduct maintenance in a purely reactive manner, but rather to plan and manage it as efficiently as any other corporate activity.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to examine public institution buildings maintenance. Other aims of this study are:

i.          To determine the extent public institution buildings are maintained?

ii.        To ascertain the present condition and status of public institution buildings.

iii.      To determine the causes of public building poor maintenance.

iv.      To proffer solutions to the causes of public building poor maintenance.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be answered:

i.          To what extent are public institution buildings maintained?

ii.        What is the present condition and status of public institution buildings?

iii.      What are the causes of public building poor maintenance?

iv.      What are the solutions to the causes of public building poor maintenance?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is critical in that it will contribute not just to knowledge and theory, but also to excellent maintenance practices in Nigeria's public institutions. This is because the research will seek to ascertain the circumstances that contributed to the current condition of non-maintenance of public buildings, some of which have been abandoned owing to their deteriorated status, and will suggest suitable corrective activities.

Additionally, the study will assist managers of public institutions in becoming aware of the current state of their building infrastructure and its impact on employee safety and health, as well as in implementing appropriate innovative measures to prevent the deterioration of newly constructed buildings, which ultimately results in increased costs associated with restoring these buildings to their original state.

It will give a critical and analytical lens through which to view the factors influencing maintenance decisions. Additionally, the research will highlight the significant impediments to public building upkeep in Nigeria.

With the populace's increased desire for efficiency and effectiveness from public sector employees, this study will aim to establish a relationship between the current quality of public buildings and their social and economic effects on public employees.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is focused on examining public institution buildings maintenance. Specifically, this study is focused on determining the extent public institution buildings are maintained, ascertaining the present condition and status of public institution buildings, determining the causes of public building poor maintenance and proffering solutions to the causes of public building poor maintenance.

Buildings in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja will be evaluated.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Data collection deteriorated as a result of response delays caused by the work schedules of GPS workers in particular. Additionally, record keeping was a challenge for all of the institutions evaluated, to the point that the researcher had to collate the number of buildings himself in certain instances. This also complicated the process of recognizing the buildings.

Despite these restrictions, the research results remain trustworthy, dependable, and suitable for any purpose of assessment and feedback. This was made feasible by the researcher's assistance to the GPS, particularly in establishing a data base for its residential structures in the study region.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Public institutions: Public institution means any entity established or controlled by the federal government, a state government, or a local government or municipality.

Buildings: A structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory.

Maintenance: The technical meaning of maintenance involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing of necessary devices, equipment, machinery, building infrastructure, and supporting utilities in industrial, business, and residential installations.

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