Determinant Constraining Factors to Effective Management and Delivery of Public Sector Projects in Rivers State Nigeria
Abstract
This study investigates the determinant constraints affecting the effective management and delivery of public sector projects in Rivers State, Nigeria. Despite considerable investments in infrastructure and willingness of Government to drive development through such investment, public projects in the region are often plagued by inefficiencies, cost overruns, delays, and abandonment. Using a survey design and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the study identified six major constraining factors: insufficient fund release, bureaucracy and weak institutional capacity, political interference, corruption and embezzlement, poor project conception and planning, and managerial inefficiency. These factors collectively account for approximately 70% of the variance in project performance outcomes. The study highlights the need for urgent reforms in public finance management, bureaucratic processes, institutional capacity building, and project governance. It recommended the enhancement of funding mechanisms, depoliticizing project execution, enforcing accountability, and building technical capacities among public project managers. The findings contribute valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to optimize public infrastructure and service delivery in Nigeria’s public sector.
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