Lagos Journal of Environmental Studies

Factor Analysis of Housing Affordability among Civil Servants in Nigeria

Folake Adeleke — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose - Housing affordability is a major challenge especially to low-income groups because of the need for other basic non-housing goods. This study is aimed at examining the determining factors of housing affordability in the households of low-income civil servants in selected parts of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach - Using multi-stage sampling technique, Lagos, Oyo, and Ekiti States were selected in Southwestern Nigeria. Questionnaire administration was undertaken among low-income civil servants on grade levels 1 to 6 drawn from the offices of government ministries in the three selected states. Data analysis of information derived from retrieved copies of the questionnaire was undertaken using Mean Rating and Exploratory Factor Analysis.

Findings - Findings indicate that available income and housing infrastructure; cultural background; and sources of construction materials constitute the key factors to housing affordability among low-income civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria.

Research limitations - This study is primarily centered on low-income civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria. Undertaking the study in other geopolitical zones of Nigeria as well as other developing countries would probably yield other areas for further research and policy implications.

Theoretical/Social/Practical implications - The study posits that, encouraging the adoption of indigenous building materials; tax reliefs; and increase in minimum wage will likely improve the present state of housing affordability among the studied low- income civil servants.

Originality/value - The study tends to be a significant contribution to housing studies among low-income civil servants. The findings of this study may be adapted for policy decision-making in other emergent economies like Nigeria.

Causes of Inadequate Resources for Health and Safety Provisions in Construction Projects

Patricia Kukoyi, Julius Faremi, Innocent Osuizugbo — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:09:40 +0000

Purpose – The study investigates the causes of inadequate resources for H&S in the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) as a determinant for adequate planning for health and safety provisions of construction workers.

Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a questionnaire survey approach to determine financial provisions for health and safety through BOQ preliminaries. 291 construction professionals participated in the study by providing responses to the questionnaire. Mean Scores and factor analysis were used to analyse the data.

Findings – The study revealed that financial provisions for health and safety in the bill of quantities are inadequate for construction activities during the construction stage; hence, health and safety provisions are limited.

Research limitations– This paper only considered construction professionals in Lagos State; therefore, the findings may not be generalised.

Theoretical/Social/Practical implications – This study recommends that construction professionals should ensure that detailed risk assessment is conducted and all health and safety issues are discussed at the preliminary and the design stages of the construction projects.

Originality/value – More than ever, more importance should be ascribed to health and safety in the administration of construction projects. This will aid a healthy and safe work environment for construction workers and promote multi-stakeholder health and safety education.

The Assessment of Prudence Practice of Built Environment Professionals in Construction Project Management

Wasiu Bello — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:54:57 +0000

Purpose – Construction industry is experiencing an increasing challenge in project performance due to many factors with owners expressing dissatisfaction with delivery of project objectives thus, a call to prudence practice as a new strategy to solving construction project challenges.

Design/methodology/approach – Twenty-seven (27) prudent practice criteria used to test the prudence of fiduciaries were adapted for the instrument used in a cross-cultural (occupational) research instrument adaptation to assess the prudence practice of construction project managers. A total 122 questionnaires were successfully retrieved using stratified random sampling in a quantitative research approach using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for data analysis.

Findings–Project managers performed typically in eight of the prudence practice criteria including awareness of their duties and responsibilities. The Quantity Surveyors were ranked as project managers that displayed high prudence practice among other professionals

Research limitations– This study is limited due to its novelty and dearth of literature that specifically address the prudence of construction professionals engaged in project management and therefore, further research would be necessary.

Theoretical/Social/Practical implications – The construction project management practitioners need to fully exploit the potentials of prudence practice for education and training of future project managers. The new adapted instrument is useful for practical application in the assessment of prudence practice of project managers.

Originality/value – The outcome of this study provides basis for assessing the prudence of project managers and also gives information about the performance of prudence practice across built environment professionals. Thus, prudence of project managers becomes measurable rather than subjective.