A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY OF FLOOR SCREED ACTIVITY IN SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Purpose: Improving labour productivity for sustainable practice in a recessed economy cannot be overemphasised. This study aimed at determining productivity of building craftsmen in floor screed activity with a view to promoting accurate estimation of manpower requirements for projects executed in South-South Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive survey research design approach was adopted using continuous observation method in work measurement study. Project work study manual served as the research instrument to collect data on selected building sites for 30 working days across six states in the zone. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Findings: The results revealed that there is no significant variation in construction labour productivity of floor screed activity across the states in the zone. Average construction labour productivity of floor screed activity in the zone based on a gang comprising an artisan and mate was 1.90m2/hr. There was also significant variation in nonworking time of construction labour engaged in floor screed activity in the Zone. Originality/value: It was concluded that a common productivity norm for floor screed activity in South-South Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria is feasible and that potentials for productivity improvement vary across the states in the Zone based on the variation existing in the nonworking time of construction labour. The study recommended that while common productivity norm could be adopted for estimating labour resource requirements for floor screed activity in the Zone cognisance should be made of peculiar business environmental factors in planning labour productivity improvement strategies.