Project Cost Overrun Management in Universities Using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling

The construction industry is a very important sector of the Nigerian economy. It contributes significantly to the Gross National Product. Cost overrun is an integral part of the construction industry. It generates in projects financial loss to both contractors and owners (clients). It is an important parameter for success of any project that results to serious sequences. Cost overrun is a chronic problem for tertiary institutions. This is because, it is common for projects not to be completed on time and within the initial project budget. The paper assess the management of project cost overrun, reasons for cost overrun and suggested solutions in selected Public Tertiary Institutions in Lafia Metropolis using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that contractor’s site management related factors has 97.6% effect on cost overrun, followed by non-human resource related factors with an effect of 94.4% on cost overrun. The least was information and communication technology related factors having 75.7% effect on cost overrun. The findings reveal that the PLS-SEM is a model that evaluates a data as a collective entity.