Study of Relationship between Time Overrun and Productivity on Construction Sites

The history of the construction industry worldwide is full of projects that were completed with significant time and cost overruns. In an attempt to reverse this trend, this study aims at establishing the relationship between time overrun and labour productivity on construction sites in Lagos, Nigeria. 43 technical and management staff of some medium and large construction firms based in Lagos, Nigeria were sampled and administered a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire contained 18 causes of project time overrun and 14 causes of low labour productivity which had been identified from the literature reviewed. With these a relationship between project time overrun and low labour productivity was established. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data. Results indicate that inadequate funds for the project, inadequate planning before project takeoff, inadequate tools and equipment and delay in delivery of material top the list of major causes of time overrun while the use of wrong construction methods, inadequate construction materials and inaccurate drawing/specification are the key factors causing low labour productivity on construction sites. Significant negative relationship was found between time overrun and labour productivity in construction sites in Nigeria. The study concludes by recommending that early appointment of project managers could ensure proper management of both the human and material resources that could guarantee improved productivity and ultimately save projects from time overrun

Economic Analysis of Children's Surgical Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Analysis.

BackgroundUnderstanding the economic value of health interventions is essential for policy makers to make informed resource allocation decisions. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize available information on the economic impact of children's surgical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe searched MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase, and Web of Science for relevant articles published between Jan. 1996 and Jan. 2015. We summarized reported cost information for individual interventions by country, including all costs, disability weights, health outcome measurements (most commonly disability-adjusted life years [DALYs] averted) and cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs). We calculated median CER as well as societal economic benefits (using a human capital approach) by procedure group across all studies. The methodological quality of each article was assessed using the Drummond checklist and the overall quality of evidence was summarized using a scale adapted from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.FindingsWe identified 86 articles that met inclusion criteria, spanning 36 groups of surgical interventions. The procedure group with the lowest median CER was inguinal hernia repair ($15/DALY). The procedure group with the highest median societal economic benefit was neurosurgical procedures ($58,977). We found a wide range of study quality, with only 35% of studies having a Drummond score ≥ 7.InterpretationOur findings show that many areas of children's surgical care are extremely cost-effective in LMICs, provide substantial societal benefits, and are an appropriate target for enhanced investment. Several areas, including inguinal hernia repair, trichiasis surgery, cleft lip and palate repair, circumcision, congenital heart surgery and orthopedic procedures, should be considered "Essential Pediatric Surgical Procedures" as they offer considerable economic value. However, there are major gaps in existing research quality and methodology which limit our current understanding of the economic value of surgical care

RETHINKING DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF COMBATANTS IN 21ST CENTURY NIGERIA'S ARMED FORCES

Nigeria contends with entrenched armed conflicts involving state and non-state actors, severely impacting national security and socio-economic stability. Despite longstanding Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) efforts aimed at transitioning combatants to civilian life, challenges persist in effectively reintegrating ex-combatants, particularly in economically marginalized regions like the Niger Delta. This study critically assesses current DDR programs in Nigeria, highlighting their shortcomings and proposing innovative 21st-century strategies. Drawing from conflict theory, it examines socio-economic, political, and psychological factors influencing ex-combatants' reintegration. This study employs a documentary research design, relying on the systematic analysis of existing reports, policy documents, and academic literature to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs in Nigeria. Key findings underscore significant gaps in economic support and societal acceptance, hindering sustainable reintegration efforts. The study advocates for tailored interventions that prioritize economic empowerment, community engagement, and psychosocial support to mitigate re-mobilization risks and promote lasting peace. Policy recommendations include enhancing vocational training aligned with local job markets, supporting entrepreneurial initiatives through microfinance, and implementing robust monitoring frameworks to ensure effective program evaluation and adaptation

Professionals’ views of material wastage on construction sites and cost overruns

It is believed that building material wastage on construction sites account for cost overruns and any improvement in building materials management on construction sites has the potential to enhance the construction industry’s performance with cost-saving benefits. The purpose of this study is to identify the most wasteful building material during construction operation. It also sets out to assess the level of material wastage with various subcontracting options, the percentage contribution of material wastage to project cost overrun, identify factors contributing to material waste on building sites and to examine the relationship between subcontracting options, project cost overrun and the level of waste generated from building material. A survey research design was employed. Responses from 56 site based professionals representing 70% of the respondents were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicate that the most wasteful building material during construction operation is mortar from plastering/rendering; labour-only subcontracting options have high contribution to material wastage. Furthermore, the study revealed that the average percentage contribution of building material wastage to project cost overrun is between 21-30%; Poor supervision, re-work, and poor material handling were identified as dominant factors that have high contribution to material wastage on sites. Finally, the result also shows that there is a relationship between subcontracting options, cost overrun and waste generated from building material during construction. Measures to reduce material wastage on construction sites were proposed.Improvement in building materials management on construction sites has the potential to enhance the construction industry’s performance with cost-saving benefits

Timing of death at National Trauma Center, Abuja, Nigeria

Background: We aimed to analyse the burden and timing of trauma deaths over a 1-year period at a trauma centre in Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective review of in-hospital trauma deaths during the period of January to December 2015. Sociodemographic data, cause of injury, mode of presentation, time interval between presentation and death, injury diagnoses, treatment, and place of death were analysed.Results: There were 2230 trauma consultations during the study period; 85 were brought in dead from the scene. We analysed data from 103 of 121 in-hospital deaths. Patient ages ranged from 0 to 90 years, with a mean age of 31.1. The male-to-female ratio was 5:1. Following injury, 46.6% of the victims presented directly to our tertiary centre, while 53.4% were referred from other hospitals. Most of the injuries were from RTA. Isolated head injury was the predominant diagnosis (44.7%), followed by polytrauma (29%). Immediate deaths (exclusive of those brought in already dead) comprised 5.8% of cases; 37.9% were early deaths and 56.3% were late deaths.Conclusions: The timing of trauma deaths closely approximated the original trimodal description in North America about half a century ago even though advances in trauma care have resulted in changes from this pattern in developed countries. Regionalised integrated care including prehospital trauma services are recommended.Keywords: trauma; mortality; timin

Human Resource Management in the Nigerian Construction Firms: Practices and Challenges

Improvement of human resource management is critical to overall productivity and cost effectiveness in the construction industry. This study assesses the current human resource management practices in the Nigeria construction organisation and the challenges confronting it. Questionnaire survey was adopted using purposive sampling technique. Ninety eight human resource managers and construction professionals in two categories of construction organisations (client organisations involved in real estate development and contractor organisations) were sampled. The results reveal that prevailing recruitment practices are placement of the right staff in the right department for the achievement of company general goals, and screening of candidates for vacant positions. Most common training and development practices involve inducting, orienting and training newly recruited employee on software and use of tools, and assigning staff based on their skill and expertise.Provision of appropriate/modern working tools and equipment and provision of incentives and benefits to staff are prevailing motivation and labour union practices. The study further identified:competition for global mobile talents, labour turnover, recruiting the right person for a specific position, wages and compensation as some of the challenges facing HRM practice in Nigeria.The study concludes that recruitment and selection practices in the construction organisation are distinctly different from those of the manufacturing and banking industry and it centres on selection of skilled and technically competent personnel for organisation’s general goal.   The study recommends that future study should  assess the impact of the identified human resource practices on productivity and project performance

Sustainable synthesis of BEA zeolite from fly ash-based amorphous silica

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDPower generation in South Africa depends majorly on the combustion of coal and the increasing demand for energy due to industrialisation and population growth signifies the continuous consumption of coal. During this process, a by-product known as coal fly ash (CFA) is generated which poses several environmental issues. The common management of the waste involves the disposal of CFA in landfills or the direct disposal to open uncultured lands, thus contaminating water bodies by the leaching of constituent CFA metals and salts that render arable land uncultivable

Investigating The Nexus between Industrial Disputes and Job Performance of Academic Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Benue State, Nigeria

This study investigates the nexus between industrial disputes and job performance of academic staff of tertiary institutions in Benue State, Nigeria. With the aid of the study objectives, two hypotheses were formulated in the study. The study adopts the mixed method research design to critically investigate the phenomena under investigation. The population of this study comprised the entire academic staff across the four selected public tertiary institutions in Benue State totaling 1,205. Given that the researcher deemed the entire population of the study convenient and accommodating, the study employed the census approach. Therefore, all the members of the population were sampled in the study. The summation of all the responses was presented using frequency distribution tables and simple percentages. In addition, the mean analysis and standard deviation were used to analyze the data generated from the field while the linear regression was used to test the hypotheses formulated in the study. With regression outputs indicating that approximately 27.5% (R² = 0.275, Adjusted R² = 0.274, SE = 0.49201), the variance in commitment is explained by such disruptions, the study reveals among others that, industrial disputes influence the job commitment of academic staff of tertiary institutions in Benue State. The study concludes that, industrial disputes exert a multifaceted and statistically negative impact on job performance of academic staff in tertiary institutions in Benue State. The study recommends among others that, Benue State government should honour agreements reached with union members in tertiary institutions in Benue State by ensuring that fair salary structures and welfare packages are compared with inflation and high cost of living in Nigeria. However, union representatives in turn, should encourage members to rebuild trust and loyalty by emphasising the long-term mission of higher education, while also creating internal mechanisms to track and remain proficiently job committed to teaching and administrative responsibilities after industrial dispute by academic staff of tertiary institutions in Benue State. &nbsp

THE PROSPECT OF MINIMISING PRODUCTION FLOW WASTE ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IN NIGERIA THROUGH THE LAST PLANNER® SYSTEM

Poor performance of construction projects is a re-occurring problem in Nigeria. Production flow waste (ranging from waiting time, material handling and over- production, among others) may be partly responsible for this problem. Meanwhile, very little is known about the role of the Last Planner System (LPS) in minimising production flow waste in Nigeria. The current study examines the manifestation of production flow wastes on Nigerian construction sites, identifies current construction practices that bear resemblance to the LPS, and finally, examines the prospects of the LPS concepts in minimising production flow waste in the corresponding construction projects. A mixed research design that uses a quantitative cross-sectional survey and qualitative-exploratory approach was used in collecting data from construction professionals based in Nigeria. Fifty-one survey responses were received and 10 interviews were conducted. The study reveals various incidences and contributory factors to production flow waste, with the long approval process being the most prevalent. It also identifies current practices that are similar to the LPS practices. The prospect of the LPS in production flow waste management for improved productivity is also explored. The study concludes that the LPS concept has the potential for minimising production flow waste in the construction process and improving productivity in the Nigeria construction industry

Generative Chatbots in the Era of Library 5.0: A Dilemma for Libraries?

Introduction: The advent of Library 5.0 integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and augmented reality to create inclusive and user-centric experiences. Objective: This study explored the role of generative chatbots, powered by AI, in transforming library operations within this framework. Method: This study employed a narrative review to examine the role of generative chatbots in rendering library services in the disruptive era. Findings: Findings revealed that generative chatbots offer personalized, accessible, and efficient services by automating routine tasks, providing resource recommendations, and enhancing user engagement. Their integration aligns with the principles of Library 5.0, which emphasize sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. However, the adoption of generative chatbots poses challenges, including concerns about data privacy, security, and the risk of over-reliance on automation. Conclusion: This paper indicated strategies for integrating generative chatbots effectively, such as robust data protection measures, staff training, and the establishment of ethical practices. It proposed for a balanced approach that leverages chatbots\u27 strengths while preserving libraries\u27 relational and transformative aspects. The findings further indicated the importance of aligning innovation with traditional library values to ensure the continued relevance and accessibility of library services in the digital age