PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS MANAGEMENT IN PLATEAU STATE.

Abstract

Effective management of scarce resources for development has remained a great challenge to developing countries; Nigeria being an example. This manifests in part, in the large number of half completed and abandoned projects littered all over the federation in which scarce funds have been sunk. In realisation of this problem, the issue of project management has been of international concern. Projects are the "building blocks for development;" project failures are therefore, counter development. This essay comprises a case study of four projects undertaken in Plateau State and a survey of sixty-seven other projects in the State. The flexible framework of Integrated Project Planning and Management Cycle (IPPMC) provides an opportunity to analyse the four projects to determine (i) the planning and implementation functions performed by the management; (ii) how effectively and well they were performed; (iii) identify factors which inhibited or contributed to projects success and (iv) offer some recommendations which can assist with future projects management. This study shows that there is gross inadequacy in project organisational arrangements and project management capabilities. Furthermore, lack of clear and integrated objectives, and government's lack of absorptive capacity for financing and managing projects inhibit success. The incessant change in leadership and therefore policies and priorities is the bane of a large number of projects. A catalogue of failed projects across the Federation should reveal colossal losses and wastage of the nation's wealth. Nigeria must make conscious effort at better management of projects for development.