Mechanism for Effective Maintenance of Public Building for Sustainability - a Case Study of Kabiru Umar Hostel, Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State Nigeria

Public Building suffers from deterioration due to poor or lack of adequate maintenance. This study therefore finds out the most appropriate mechanism to be adopted for effective maintenance of public buildings. Problems associated with the maintenance of Kabiru Umar Hostel and the responses of the maintenance department towards detected defects were also investigated. A two sectioned questionnaire was administered to both hostel users and the maintenance personnel, a total of 130 questionnaires was randomly distributed to the maintenance staff and students: Thirty (30) questionnaires to maintenance staff while one hundred (100) questionnaires to students users, respectively, and the result was analyzed using simple percentages. The findings revealed that the maintenance department lack professionals, adequate materials/equipment, maintenance, fund as well as proper supervision. The department does not immediately respond to detected defects and the best mechanism for effective maintenance was found to be the preventive maintenance method. It was hence concluded that, the maintenance personnel were underused at the expense of the students. Even with the available resources, no effort is made to help out the condition of hostel users by the department. Lastly, it was recommended that hostel maintenance fee paid by the students should be used appropriately in purchasing materials/equipment needed for the maintenance job. For effective use of the maintenance personnel, adequate funds should be provided to the department. Preventive maintenance should be used so that defects could be detected early and proper remedial measures should be taken to avoid further deterioration that would involve high cost. Staff should be given the opportunities of further studies to upgrade their professional skills to meet the modern technologies in their profession. Finally renovation should be carried out at intervals of four to five years to maintain the aesthetic value and good usage of the building and should be cleaned on a daily bases to reduce health hazard on the students