PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICY OUTCOMES OF DELTA STATE OIL PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, 2006-2021

Oghuvbu, Ejiroghene Augustine and Covenant University, Theses (2023) PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICY OUTCOMES OF DELTA STATE OIL PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, 2006-2021. ["eprint_fieldopt_thesis_type_phd" not defined] thesis, Covenant University Ota.

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Abstract

The study examined the relationship between accountability and policy outcomes of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) between 2006 and 2021, necessitated by the growing call for developing countries' public sectors, including Nigeria, to deliver top-notch public services that cater for citizens' needs, be more responsible for their choices and activities, and manage resources more wisely. The main objective of the study was to determine the relationship between public accountability and policy outcomes of the commission using a cross- sectional research design and insights from Agency-Stewardship theory as expounded by Michael Jensen and Thomas Jones as the framework of analysis. A total of 400 questionnaire were administered to five groups selected through a double-stage probability sampling technique, out of which 359 copies were recovered for analysis Data analysis was done in two phases, quantitative and qualitative, using Version 21 of the IBM-Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS). Also, the quantitative data analysis incorporated descriptive statistics, simple linear regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation, while qualitatively, the data were presented in themes and analysed discursively. Findings showed that 62% of the respondents indicated that DESOPADEC is accountable to the host communities for services rendered, but the majority of them, with 64%, stated that DESOPADEC staff have a very narrow understanding of accountability. The result also revealed the policy implementation challenges confronting DESOPADEC in the oil-producing communities of Delta State. They include frequent state government interference (84%), policy inconsistency on the part of government which affects the commission’s performance over the years (74%), lack of political will and abuse of power for personal gains among the staff of the commission (76%), and corruption and wastages among the commission staff leading to high cost of social amenities in oil host communities (78%). From Pearson correlation of -0.130, the findings further revealed that there is a significant and negative relationship between the challenges of policy implementation and policy outcomes in DESOPADEC. The study recommended that to avoid the challenges of accountability faced by DESOPADEC, effective law enforcement is essential to ensure adherence to laid out operational policies, rules and regulations, and mete out severe punishment on offenders to break the cycle of impunity. Also, reforms focusing on improving financial management and strengthening the role of auditing are essential for achieving greater efficiency in the agency to curb unethical behaviour. To combat unethical behaviour, the government must be open, allow press freedom, transparency, and access to information. Given these results, the study comes to the conclusion that accountability affects public policy outcomes just as it affects a society's socioeconomic well-being. In order to promote better outcomes for its citizens, the agency must incorporate accountability as an ethical practise in all its processes, from the formulation of policies to their implementation

Item Type:	Thesis (["eprint_fieldopt_thesis_type_phd" not defined])
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Accountability, DESOPADEC, Delta State, oil-producing areas, policy outcomes, public policy
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	18 May 2023 07:35
Last Modified:	18 May 2023 07:35
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/16895

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