Management of Government Real Estate Assets in Plateau State

This study examines the management of government-owned real estate assets in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, evaluating the inventory, condition, utilisation, and revenue performance of the state's publicly owned property portfolio including offices, staff quarters, markets, and commercial properties. Government real estate assets in Nigerian states represent significant public investments that are frequently poorly managed, inadequately maintained, and underutilised, resulting in revenue losses and deteriorating service delivery environments. The study employs a professional estate management assessment methodology, drawing on data from the Plateau State Ministry of Works and Housing property inventory records, physical condition surveys of 40 government-owned properties across Jos, Shendam, and Pankshin, and structured interviews with 20 ministry officials and 15 professional estate managers. Assessment dimensions cover inventory documentation completeness, physical condition, tenancy and utilisation rates, rent collection performance, and maintenance expenditure. Findings reveal that the Plateau State government asset register is incomplete and significantly outdated, covering fewer than 60 percent of government properties by estimate. Unoccupied government properties, including abandoned housing estates and underused office blocks, represent a significant waste of public resources. Rental income collection from government commercial properties is below 40 percent of billed amounts due to inadequate enforcement. Maintenance expenditure is less than one percent of asset replacement value annually, far below the recommended five percent. Recommendations include commissioning a comprehensive state asset register, establishing a professional estates department under a dedicated Director of Properties, and exploring lease arrangements with the private sector for non-core government property assets. Keywords: government estate management, public assets, Plateau State, property management, asset utilisation.