Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology and Management ISSN: 2249-4723 (Online), ISSN: 2347-7253 (Print) Volume 9, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com JoCETM (2019) 6-15 © STM Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved Page 6 Input of Effective Cost Control in the Management of Construction Works and Architectural Excellence in Nigeria Oluwadare Joshua Oyebode * Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Abstract Effective cost control is crucial to the management of construction projects and this can affect the management of construction works and architectural excellence. This research investigated into the essence cost control in project management and excellent architectural delivery despite scarce resources for the optimum benefits of the client, civil engineers and other parties to a construction contract. Secondary data collection was based mainly on the assessment of related past literature and write ups on Nigerian economy and construction cost management. Detailed references were made to books, journals, conference/seminar papers, reports and other forms of published materials that were considered relevant to the research subject matter. The results revealed that economic aspects of construction are complicated by the fact that the functions of design and production are generally separated. At the design stage, the designer will usually not know the methods and equipment available to the contractor who may eventually build the project, and who is directly accountable for the resources used, which for most buildings account for about two-thirds of the total cost of the project. This will have serious adverse effect on the project cost, its performance and completion date and may lead to delay and outright abandonment. Design and planning should be geared towards effective cost management and control as a solution to project abandonment and optimal delivery of construction works. It has been concluded that strong financial base of client, timely delivery of project according to plan, quality materials, excellent workmanship, precision in the definition of scope of project, adequate budget allocation, experienced contractors and consultants are critical to construction projects and architectural aesthetics. Keywords: Cost Control, Client, Construction, Civil Engineers, Architectural Excellence *Author for Correspondence E-mail: oyebodedare@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION Cost and time overruns have become a cankerworm within the Nigerian construction industry today as well as lack of good quality work of its end product which do not provide many of the clients’ value for money. Constructions projects in Nigeria are known for over-shooting their initial cost budget. The construction industry being solely responsible for economic growth of the nation will base on the government’s fiscal policy and budget; the formulation of its own policy plan on how to carry out development within that budget and equally give the nation a healthy developed environment. This is not to suggest that the contractor has no contribution to make, but since the labour which he controls, cost only about half that of the materials, his efforts can easily be nullified by any design which makes excessive or unnecessary use of materials. The design and execution of a project should produce maximum value for money. Given therefore, the high cost rate of money for construction resources and high interest in this dwindling, deregulated and depressed economy, it is pertinent that efficient costing should be a very strong element in project design and implementation. The need to have cost data available from the earliest stages of the design has encouraged the development of