- By Pius Evbuomwam
Economic development is the process whereby traditional and primitive economies are transformed into modern, industrial and flourishing and prosperous economies, one in which, happiness will be distributed as equally as possible, or as the 18th century English philosopher and founder of modern utilitarianism, Jeremy Bentham puts it, where there is greatest happiness for the greater number of people.
Economic development is crucial to generating and to enhancing employment and more job opportunities. It is a key driver of poverty reduction, determinant of qualitative and quantitative improvements in living standards, and roadmap to a brighter future for the citizens of a country.
These make government deliberate policy intervention in the economy so important, because government must initiate policies to improve productivity, well-being and quality of life of the people. Government must put in place structures to reduce poverty reduction, and provide more jobs, higher incomes, improved productivity, improved goods and services, and above all, ensure the work environment is optimally conducive.
When you consider our enormous resources, and level of development, you will agree that Nigerian economy has grossly under-performed, worsened by poor working environment and lack of maintenance culture. This is where facility management comes in as a crucial factor in national economic development.
Facility Management (FM) incorporates multi-disciplinary activities within the built industry. The aim of the endeavour is to improve the quality of life of people and increase productivity in business and the workplace, by making sure that the support services and logistics of the work environment or the organization it serves are effectively delivered, and working efficiently.
Facility management is critical to national economic development. In as much as peoples’ efforts and activities oil the structure and ensures that institutions work, and ultimately drives development and the economy, it follows therefore that the working place, working environment, tools, and facilities must function perfectly to enhance creativity and productivity. Good living and working environment produce the best in man.
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Disturbed by the dilapidated state of public buildings and infrastructure across the country, former President Muhammadu Buhari in year 2022 signed into law the Executive Order 11. The Order focused essentially on the maintenance of public buildings and infrastructure. It is a policy framework for maintenance of national infrastructures, and it expects Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) to set up maintenance departments. The Order also gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy and expects the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to establish a department of federal public assets maintenance.
The Executive Order is expected to strengthen and sustain the development and management of infrastructures in the country. This is because, the prospects for the Nigerian economy depend on the policies articulated to drive it, and the seriousness with which they are implemented.
The role of facility management in national economic development cannot be over-emphasized. Building maintenance which is an important aspect of building management is often neglected, the Executive Order, if fully implemented would give a facelift to public buildings across the country.
We only need to imbibe maintenance culture and, buildings would retain its economic life. There would be lower depreciation cost, and ultimately, there would be higher productivity and higher income and profits. In other words, proper maintenance would ensure lower expenditures on replacement, and would make more funds available for new productive ventures and investment.
Proper facility management would ensure sustainability of buildings and infrastructure, as well as income. It would save government and organizations unnecessary expenditure on repairs, and would enhance the life span of properties and infrastructure. It would also enhance income. This is because facility management focuses more on preventive measures.
Facility management also ensures proper and efficient waste management or disposal, thereby preventing diseases, which ultimately ensures good environment, healthy and productive population, healthy and prosperous economy.
Wasted public assets or abandoned buildings litter the country, though some of the assets are under litigation. It is time to identify these assets, turn them around to prevent further wastage, enhance income and development through proper management. The buildings can be better or properly managed and maintained, using Public Private Partnerships (PPP). The arrangement would most certainly enhance the assets, the economy and development.
•Evbuomwam is a Benin based Estate Surveyor and Valuer.