Exploring anti-corruption capabilities of e-procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria

Egidario Aduwo,Adedeji Afolabi,Eziyi Ibem,Uwakonye Uwakonye,Emmanuel Ayo-Vaughan,Patience Tunji-Olayeni,Aderonke Oni,Adedamola Oluwunmi

doi:10.5130/ajceb.v20i1.6964

Abstract

The use of electronic (e-) procurement to support the execution of supply chain management activities in the different industrial sectors is permeating all regions of the world. However, in countries in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant level of corruption and unethical practices in the procurement process, there is a need for a better understanding of how e-Procurement can help to check the incidence of corrupt and unethical practices in construction project delivery. This study relied on a cross-sectional survey of 759 respondents, including architects, builders, engineers, estate/facilities managers, contractors, construction/project managers, quantity surveyors, supply chain managers and others to identify and analyse the anti-corruption capabilities of e-Procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria. The results of the descriptive statistics, relative importance index and principal components analysis identified 18 anti-corruption capabilities in e-Procurement in construction project delivery with the three most important ones being the capability of e-Procurement to ensure good inventory management/record keeping; accountability by providing audit services trail and minimise direct human contacts during bidding. The key underlying dimensions of these capabilities include the advantage of e-Procurement over the traditional paper-based method; transparent bidding process and increase in competition in construction project delivery process. The findings of this study have implications, especially, on the use of e-Procurement to curb corruption in construction procurement activities.

Highlights

One of the challenges confronting the construction industry globally is the growing incidence of corruption in the delivery of projects
In countries in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant level of corruption and unethical practices in the procurement process, there is a need for a better understanding of how e-Procurement can help to check the incidence of corrupt and unethical practices in construction project delivery
This study relied on a cross-sectional survey of 759 respondents, including architects, builders, engineers, estate/facilities managers, contractors, construction/ project managers, quantity surveyors, supply chain managers and others to identify and analyse the anti-corruption capabilities of e-Procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

One of the challenges confronting the construction industry globally is the growing incidence of corruption in the delivery of projects. The existing studies have shown that corruption in the construction industry, manifests in different forms such as embezzlement, kickbacks, and fraud (Sohail and Cavill, 2008; Ameh and Odusanmi, 2010), collusion, nepotism, and extortion (OseiTutu, Badu and Owusu-Manu, 2010; Chan and Owusu, 2017) and others. These have been attributed to the lack of transparency in the acquisition of construction works, services, materials and equipment (Boyd and Padilla, 2009). Electronic (e-) Procurement, which is the use of the Internet to acquire works, goods and services (Vitkauskaite and Gatautis, 2008; Ibem and Laryea, 2015, Aduwo et al, 2017), has been recognized as a powerful tool for improving transparency and reducing the incidences of corrupt practices in all forms of procurement activities (Neupane, Soar and Vaidya, 2012; Zakaria, et al, 2014; World Economic Forum, 2016; OECD, 2016)

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion