ABSTRACT Maintenance is the preservation of buildings in their initial functional, structural, aesthetic state, so that they continue to remain in such healthy state and retain their value and standard for a long period of existence. The aim of research is to know the maintenance techniques employed in the higher institutions, examine the physical state of building within the study area and evaluate the challenges facing maintenance of the higher institution buildings with proffer solutions. Data for this study were collected through personal observation, desk research, oral interview and convenient sampling techniques was used to distribute the questionnaire and it was concluded from the findings that: corrective maintenance is the most applicable technique employed in the study area: major challenge facing maintenance of higher institution buildings is finance. Finding also revealed that most of the higher institutions in Kwara state have works and maintenance unit with sustainable maintenance policy, their staff needs adequate training and necessary update on how to execute maintenance work. Furthermore, inadequate expenditure in maintenance, shortage of staff, lack of maintenance specialist and poor resources management are the deficiencies that inhibits maintenance discharge in the study area. It was recommended that there should be adoption of corrective maintenance buildings in the study area should be regularly maintained to guide against defect areas like roof leakage, cracks on the wall, lack of electricity, doors and windows broken, paint fading and maintenance work should be adequately finance. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page i Certification ii Dedication iii Acknowledgement iv Abstract vi Table of contents vii CHAPTER ONE 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Background To The Study 1 1.2 Statement Of The Problems 3 1.3 Research Questions 3 1.4 Aim And Objective Of The Study 4 1.5 Research Hypothesis 4 1.6 Scope Of The Study 5 1.7 Significance Of The Study 5 1.8 Definition Of Terms 6 CHAPTER TWO 8 Literature Review 8 2.0 Introduction 8 2.1 Descriptions Of Maintenance 8 2.2 Type, Nature And Scope Of Building Maintenance 10 2.3 Deterioration Of Buildings 14 2.3.1. Building Inspection As A Way Out Of Deterioration And Disrepair 17 2.4 Poor Maintenance Of Higher Institution Buildings 18 2.4.1 Flooring Materials As A Condition In Rating Higher Institution Building 21 2.4.2 Roofing As A Condition For Rating Higher Institution Building 21 2.4.3 Maintenance Budgets/Funding As A Condition For Rating Higher Institution Buildings. 21 2.4.4 Higher Institution Leaders And Maintenance Managers 22 2.5 Factors Influencing Decision To Undertake Maintenance 23 2.5.1 Maintenance Policy 25 2.5.2 Maintenance Strategy 26 2.5.4 The Importance Maintenance Manager 27 2.5.5 Building Condition Survey 29 2.6 Previous Building Maintenance Methodologies For Higher Institution Buildings 29 2.7 Existing Models For Building Maintenance 31 2.8 Building Performance Indicators 32 2.8.1 Criteria For Building Condition Evaluation 32 2.8.2 Identification Of Gaps In Literatures 33 CHAPTER THREE 35 Research Methodology 35 3.0 Introduction 35 3.1 Research Design 35 3.2 Data Collection 35 3.2.1 Sources Of Data Collection 35 3.2.2 Methods Of Data Collection 36 3.3 The Study Population 37 3.4 Sampling Frame 37 3.4.1 Sample Size 37 3.5 Sampling Technique 37 3.6 Research Factors 38 3.7 Data Collection And Treatment 38 3.8 Data Analysis Design 39 CHAPTER FOUR 41 Data Presentation And Analysis Of The Results 41 4.1 Introduction 41 4.2 Analysis Of The Responses From The Respondents 41 4.3 The Characteristics Of The Respondents (Building Users) 41 4.4 Analysis Of The Users’ Perception Of The Present Condition In Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin 44 4.5 Factors Responsible For Poor Maintenance Of Buildings In Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. 47 4.6 The Maintenance Manager Survey 55 CHAPTER FIVE 58 Summary, Conclusion And Recommendations 58 5.1 Summary 58 5.2 Recommendations 59 5.3 Conclusion 60 References 62 Questionnaire 68 CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Buildings require adequate maintenance as they get older over time. Building maintenance is required to ensure the safety of building occupants and properties. Lack of maintenance can result in unsafe, unhealthy and hazardous environment. Maintenance is not restricted to a certain type of building or to any location; rather maintenance is an important operation for the provisions of infrastructural development. It plays an important role among other activities in the building operations (Zulkarnain, 2011). Maintenance is controlling the conditions, state and situations of buildings to an acceptable standard. According to Adenuga and Iyagba (2005), it is impossible to produce buildings which are maintenance free, but maintenance work can be minimized through good designs and appropriate workmanship carried out by experts or competent craftsmen. However, much can be done at the design stage to reduce the rate of subsequent maintenance works. According to Faremi and Adenuga (2012), all elements of a building deteriorate at a greater or lesser rate depending on materials, methods of construction, age and environmental conditions. Neglect of maintenance, in most buildings, results to rapidly increasing deterioration of the fabric and finishes of a building accompanied by harmful effects on the contents and occupants. Some building owners most often try to keep maintenance expenditure to a minimum, ignoring the adverse long-term effects of such a practice. Maintenance has become a principal issue in the life of higher institution buildings. The importance attached to Kwara state polytechnic Ilorin, in the society, requires that maintenance issues be considered at all times. Maintenance plays a major role in the performance of Kwara state polytechnic Ilorin. Higher institution buildings are assets developed by government and used by the people. Spedding (1994) noted that continuous neglect of the assets of educational institutions is not only storing potential enormous bill for the future, but is also seriously affecting the quality of work and achievement of many learners. The primary objective of building maintenance is to preserve buildings in their initial functional, structural and aesthetic state (Adejimi, 2005). This is to ensure that such a facility continues to remain in such state and retain its investment value over a long period of time. Buildings are generally required to provide safe and conducive environment for the performance of various human activities. Odediran et. al. (2012) observed that the ability of a building, to provide the required environment for a particular activity, is a measure of its functionality. Therefore, as the components of a building begin to deteriorate, it becomes necessary to take some measures to ensure that the desired characteristics of that facility, which provide safety and convenience, are retained through adequate maintenance. Maintenance enhances the quality of a building structure to meet modern requirements in order to prolong the life span of the building. It is required to ensure the safety of building occupants. Shohet, Puterman and Gilboa (2002) made it clear that there are increasing demands on maintenance programme to provide tools that will support maintenance planning. This is also confirmed by Olagunju (2012) who also noted that that the absence of appropriate tools for predictive maintenance of existing buildings can have a detrimental effect on the future of such buildings. It is necessary to carry out maintenance works for the safety of users and properties in the buildings, to also preserve the physical condition of the buildings and keep the buildings in good operational state at all times. Appropriate building maintenance can be achieved by providing maintenance tools for all higher institution buildings, especially in Kwara state polytechnic Ilorin. Maintenance issues play a major role in the performance of Kwara state polytechnic Ilorin. Abiodun (1996) observed that lucrative building maintenance contracts were awarded without due process which also contributed to poor maintenance of buildings. Adejimi (2005) attributed the array of abandoned and epileptically functioning facilities in Nigeria to poor or lack of maintenance culture. This underscores the need for a study on the maintenance strategy used by the higher institution managers and various factors affecting higher institution building maintenance. This is with a view to proffering appropriate maintenance strategies and tools.