BUREAUCRATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA

(A STUDY OF IFO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OGUN STATE)

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Public sector has been described as engine of growth of any given country because of its responsible as part of government machinery for implementing policy decisions and delivering services that are of value to citizens. It is a mandatory institution under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999. In Nigeria, federal, States and local governments constitute the public sector. Chapter VI of the Constitution, Executive, Part 1 (D) and Part II (C) provides for a public service at the federal and state levels of government (Oghojafor and Ighodalo, 2015).

Service delivery is more complex in the public sector as it is not just about meeting expressed needs, but finding out the needs that are not expressed, setting priorities, resource allocation and publicly justifying and accounting for what has been done. In most developing countries, the public sector plays significant role in service provision as it controls much of the economic resources. In today’s globalizing and competitive world, the delivery of quality service is strategic for success and survival (Nazifi and Muhammed, 2014).

In view of this, public agencies have come under pressure and debate in recent years in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery with respect to the needs and rights of the citizens. This according to Carvalho (2010) is in line with the principles of New Public Management (NPM) which aims at meeting the needs of the citizens rather than that of the bureaucracy.

Public Sector Management (PSM) is a key function for efficient and effective management of public service delivery. It entails the establishment of institutions; structures; systems; formulation and enforcement of policies; laws; regulations; standards and procedures. Public services are not a privilege in a civilized society but they are a legitimate expectation. That is why meeting the basic needs of the citizens is one of the key programmes of the Government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). It is also the reason why the Government’s macro-economic strategy called Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) calls, among other things, for the reduction in unnecessary government consumption and the release of resources for productive investment and their redirection to areas of greatest need. This means that government institutions must be reoriented to optimize access to their services by all citizens, within the context of fiscal constraints and the fulfillment of competing needs. It is on this note that the study examines public sector management and efficient service delivery in Lagos State Water Corporation.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

Most of Nigeria’s state water agencies are grappling with multiple problems owing to various reasons; many water works are now supplying less water than they were designed for. State water agencies have generally failed to provide water services to urban dwellers particularly the urban poor. Since the 1980s water provision through public utilities was financed through government budgets, relying mainly on donor support and taxes. Since they were not run on profit, tariffs were minimal for piped connections. This accounts for state water agencies overdependence on subventions from state government. Without increased investment in water and sanitation, city waste and pollution levels will multiply (Onyenechere and Osuji, 2012).

Prior to this period, successive governments in Nigeria and external support agencies have expended millions of naira on the construction of water supply facilities to the extent that some places have up to three facilities executed by different agencies. In spite of this huge investment, the majority of the people do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation either because most of the installed facilities are not functioning at all or are functioning intermittently. Irregular and inadequate water supply, excessive and inefficient billing, low water quality and poor consumer service are typical complaints (Oladipo, 2007). The state water agencies do not recover their operating expenses from revenues generated by them; this is because many customers default in paying bills.

With the failure of the state government to provide adequate water supply, people searched for alternative sources of supply. The local government, water vendors and other local entrepreneurs came into the scene and the evidence became the buying and selling of water in the open market across Nigeria (Okoli and Onah, 2012). The urban poor became serious victims of the trade. It is in this view that the study examines public sector management and efficient service delivery in Lagos State.

1.3   Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between public sector management and efficient service delivery in Lagos State with focus on Lagos State Water Corporation. The specific objectives of the study are to:

1. examine the effect of employee motivation on public service delivery.
2. investigate the effect of public sector reforms on employee performance at Lagos State water corporation.
3. investigate the effect of organizational leadership on employee productivity.
4. examine the relationship between organizational communication system and the provision of portable water in Lagos state water corporation.

1.4   Research Questions

1. What is the effect of employee motivation on public service delivery?
2. What is the effect of public sector reforms on employee performance in Lagos State water corporate?
3. What is the effect of organizational leadership on employee productivity?
4. What is the relationship between organizational communication system and the provision of portable water in Lagos state water corporation?

 1.5 Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis 1

H_o: employee motivation has not significantly affected public service delivery

 Hypothesis 2

H_o: Public sector reform has not significantly affected employee performance in Lagos State Water Corporation.

Hypothesis 3

H_o: Organizational leadership has not significantly affected employee productivity in

Lagos State Water Corporation.

Hypothesis 4

H_o: There is no significant relationship between organizational communication system and provision of portable water by Lagos State Water Corporation

 1.6      Significance of the Study

This study is one of few studies to focus specifically on public sector management and efficient service delivery with focus on the water corporation. It is also unique in its approach of providing both specific and integrated provisions of services by not only the local council, public but also the government. It, therefore, contributes towards an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual framework surrounding service delivery. The study also provides a better understanding of a link between service delivery and policies and legislation of the country thus enhancing the sense of responsibility and ownership of the mandate to both the government and recipients of services. The significance of this link lies in the fact that it enhances public accountability, for the public can hold the municipality accountable and they have legal recourse should they feel that they were treated unfairly.

The model to be employed in the study will provides a better sense of the implementation and evaluation of service delivery programmes by the government in general and local municipalities in particular. This model can also be incorporated in the curricula of various institutions that deal with the field of Public Management. It can also be used by the government institutions that are responsible for building capacity.

Finally, the research will also be of practical relevance to the government, non­governmental organizations and social researchers who may be interested in this field of study.

1.7   Scope of the Study

The scope of the study is to examine public sector management and efficient service delivery in Lagos State with focus on Lagos State Water Corporation in Lagos Island Zone, Onikan. The study will embrace public sector reform, employee motivation  organizational leadership, organizational communication and productivity in Lagos State Water Corporation.

1.8      Operational Definition of Terms

Public Sector: Public sector consists of governments and all publicly controlled or publicly funded agencies, enterprises, and other entities that deliver public programs, goods, or services.

Public Sector Management: It constitutes establishment of institutions; structures; systems; formulation and enforcement of policies; laws; regulations; standards and procedures to ensure effective and efficient of public service delivery.

Service Delivery: Service delivery is a component of business that defines the interaction between providers and clients where the provider offers a service and the client either finds value or loses value as a result.

Employee Motivation: Employee motivation is the level of energy, commitment, and creativity that a company’s workers bring to their jobs.

Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform formation could be located within the realm of raising public servants that would facilitate attainment of imperialists’ interest of economic exploitation with minimal cost.

Organizational Leadership: Organizational leadership emphasizes on developing leadership skills and abilities that are relevant across the organizations.

Employee Performance: Employee Performance  is a process for establishing a shared workforce understanding about what is to be achieved at an organisation level.

Employee Productivity: Employee productivity is an assessment of the efficiency of a worker or group of workers. Productivity may be evaluated in terms of the output of an employee in a specific period of time.

Project Overview

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