ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS THAT AFFECT COST CONTROL BY NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS
Nasiru Zakari Muhammad1, Kunya, Sani Usman2, and Abdurrahman Mutawakkil3
Department of civil Engineering Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil Department of Building, Abubakar Tafawa balewa university, Bauchi
Department of Civil Engineering, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil nasirumahad@yahoo.com/snkunya@gmail.conm/abmm200@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Cost control is an important issue in construction project management. It is widely practiced by contractors in Nigeria and need to carry out through the life of contraction projects. This paper investigates in to the cost control in construction of building and civil engineering projects in Nigeria. Factors affecting the cost of construction in carrying out the project were identified and assessed. Problems faced by contractors in controlling costs were also assessed accordingly .Questionnaires were administered to construction contractors to elicit information with regard to current practice of cost control. Consequently, the data were analyzed using software spss to determine the mean score for each factor which was subsequently ranked accordingly. The student t-test was also used to determine whether there is an agreement in the opinion among the principal participants with regard to factors of cost control. The result shows that the main factors responsible for increasing cost of project are wrong method of estimation with mean score (8.60) ranked highest followed by incorrect planning with mean score (8.20) ranked second, high cost of transportation with the mean score (8.0) ranked fourth and fluctuation of price of material with mean score (7.60) ranked third. Spearman ranking was also calculated to determine the level of agreement between the principal participants. The results of the hypotheses show that there is agreement between contractors’ and clients’ opinion with respect to the factors that affect cost control. It also show that there is no agreement in such opinion between Consultants/Clients and Contractors/Consultants.
Significance: This paper shows some light as to the differences in opinions, and the most agreed factors that affect cost control during projects executions as indicated by the clients, consultants and contractors in the industry.
Key words: Assessment, Cost, Control, Contraction industry