The main contractors are continuously involved in a process of transforming inputsud(materials, labour and- capital} into outputs such as constructed faci lities but they areudusually accompanied by subcontractors and financial institutions among other firms. Thisudstudy therefore examined the performance of labour-only subcontractors in the Nigerianudconstruction industry. The principal objective was to find if any significant difference existsudbetween the time and cost performance of these speciality contractors. In achieving thisudobjective, one hundred questionnaires were distributed to each of the four categories ofudrespondents in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. 75, 88, 56 and 42 questionnairesudwere respectively filled and returned by the main contractors, labour-only subcontractors,udclients and consultants in the study area. Descriptive, parametric and non parametricudstatistical techniques were used for the analysis. Results indicated that significantuddifference exists between time and cost performance of labour-only subcontractors. Theirudmean scores were 4.30 and 3.29 respectively. The labour subcontractor performedudcreditably well in project delivery (time) but there is always cost overruns when comparedudwith the initial estimates of the projects. It was also discovered that subcontractors' timeudperformance is sometimes at the expense of work quality as a result of the speedyudexecution of work at hand in order to pave way for another engagement. It is thereforeudsuggested that project monitoring and supervision should be given a priority attention ifudthis procurement method is to achieve its expected success.
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