Supervision and Project Management in Nigeria-An Empirical Study of Cross River State, Nigeria Erosion and Water Sheet Management Projects (CRS-NEWMAP)

Abstract

This study focuses on Supervision and Project Management in Nigeria: An Empirical Study of Cross River State, Nigeria Erosion and Water Sheet Management Projects (CRS-Newmap). A case study of Cross River State Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (CRS-NEWMAP). It is a known fact that the most outstanding problem associated with development projects in Nigeria is the lack of effective supervision thereby leading to shoddy execution of projects by contractors. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine the impact of supervision and management of development projects in Nigeria. The population of study comprises of staff of CRS-NEWMAP. The researcher employed the survey research design and a sample size of 275 out of a population of 471. The selection was done through the use of stratified random sampling procedure. In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, three hypotheses were formulated and tested. Data were generated through the use of closed ended questionnaire titled Supervision and Management of Development Projects in Nigeria (SAMDPNNQ). Data were tested and analyzed by the use of simple percentage and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation co-efficient Statistical tool. The results obtained at 0.05 level of significance revealed that there is a significant relationship between supervision of development projects and sharp practices/ineffective supervision of NEWMAP projects. It also reveals that there is a significance relationship between supervision of development projects and education attainment and training of managers of NEWMAP projects and it also shows that there is a relationship between relationship between supervision of development projects and reduction of vulnerability amongst the people. The study clearly reveals that proper supervision of NEWMAP projects have the propensity of forestalling sharp practices amongst supervisors of development projects in Cross River State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that supervisors of development projects should always ensure that all necessary works are executed in absolute compliance with engineering designs as well as working drawings, technical specifications and associated contract documents before signing certificates of job completion, supervisors who collects gratification onsite inspection should be prosecuted as this would serve as deterrent to others. Finally, supervisors and managers of development projects should be employed based on merit rather than man-know-man syndrome.