An Assessment of the Implications of the Major Socio-economic Characteristics of the Construction Skilled Labor on Effective Delivery of Electricity Power Project in the South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Provision of adequate power has been a long time problem in Nigeria. It has negatively affected the socio-economic condition of the society. In an effort to address this deplorable situation, the power sector has been transformed by various political administrations from one form to another over time yet, electricity supply and delivery of Electricity Power Project (EPP) have not been effective. The study therefore seeks to improve on power supply services by way of assessing the implications of the major socio-economic characteristics of the construction skilled labor on effective delivery of EPP in the south eastern states of Nigeria. Field survey method of data collection targeted on the skilled labor of the power sector and the active electricity consumers in the study area was adopted, on a mutually exclusive order. An inferential statistical approach of polynomial regression analyses was used to establish model relationships existing between the skilled labor determinants (age of experience, availability, educational qualification, remuneration and training/retraining) as the independent variables and the different functions of effective EPP delivery (steady supply of electricity, fair charges on electricity consumption, and swift response to complaints and faults) as the dependent factors respectively. Findings show that the significant predictive (independent) variables remaining in the three final models tested for adequacy have positive influences on the models; with remuneration and training determinants common and strongest in their effects on the models. Age of experience and availability of the labor determinants however are in addition contained only in the model for fair charges on electricity consumption, and model for swift response to complaints and faults respectively. It is therefore recommended to all stakeholders in the power sector to align efforts with the power authority in engaging workers on need based training programmes regularly, as well as review upwards and appropriately the workers remunerations so as to boost generally the human capacity industrial base knowledge, motive and comfort; towards effective delivery of EPP in the study area.