An Exploratory Assessment of University Staff Housing Facilities Management and Maintenance Culture

Abstract

Maintenance is a vital aspect for facilities, especially those handled by man as they are mostly affected by diverse factors. Staff housing and its attendant facilities are essential aspects that define tertiary institutions of learning's quality and aesthetics. Its qualitative maintenance enhances the productivity of the users, thereby contributing to quality research and learning. This study examines facilities maintenance culture in the Federal University of Technology, Akure staff housing. The study adopted a survey research design. Data for the analysis were sourced from the staff housing occupants and the institution's facilities maintenance department. The data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the maintenance culture adopted for the ICT services, aesthetics management, and waste disposal are shambles and moribund. It was also observed that the factor impeding the quality maintenance of these facilities include lackadaisical attitude to facilities management, improper use of facilities by end-users, inadequate funding, use of inferior materials when replacing damages and unconcern attitude of the users. It can be concluded that the University adopts a breakdown facility maintenance culture than a preventive approach, thereby making these facilities to be in a deplorable state. The study recommends that proper budgetary for maintenance, maintenance manual maintenance, and more maintenance equipment/services should be adopted to improve the facility's upkeep.