English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ONE RULE A DAY: PARENTHETICAL CONCORD
The installation of the computers and other gadgets ~have~ been done (nonstandard).
The installation of the computers and other gadgets has been done (standard).
Nigeria, in both her public and private sectors, ~need~ an overhaul (nonstandard).
Nigeria, in both her public and private sectors, needs an overhaul (standard).
In the two sentences above, the headwords of the subjects are installation and Nigeria, which are singular. This explains why the verbs are both singular. It is essential to determine the headword (most important word) in a subject before choosing a verb.
GAB
