MPACT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELAY ON INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE FEDERAL POLYTECTHNIC BAUCHI

ABSTRACT This study examined the impact of construction project delays on institutional activities using Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi as a case study. Data were collected from 269 respondents through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. The results showed that although several construction projects such as academic buildings, hostels, staff offices, and road networks recorded high mean scores of 4.14, 3.87, 3.84, and 3.86 respectively indicating agreement that such projects exist timely completion remained a major challenge, as reflected by a low mean score of 2.35 for “projects completed on time.” Project delays were found to significantly affect institutional performance, with high mean values showing strong agreement that delays disrupt academic programs (Mean = 3.67), reduce the availability of lecture spaces (Mean = 3.89), lower the quality of academic services (Mean = 4.06), and hinder administrative efficiency (Mean = 3.81). Financially, respondents agreed that delays lead to cost overruns (Mean = 3.93), extra institutional expenses (Mean = 3.85), budgeting disruptions (Mean = 3.79), impaired daily operations (Mean = 3.79), and decreased institutional credibility (Mean = 3.96). Overall, stakeholder satisfaction with project management was low, with 56.5% expressing dissatisfaction. The study concludes that construction project delays significantly undermine academic, administrative, financial, and operational effectiveness, and recommends that institutions adopt improved project management strategies, strengthen monitoring systems, and enhance accountability to ensure timely project delivery and institutional efficiency.