EFFECT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

ABSTRACT

Prior to the introduction of information communication technology in Nigerian government ministries, departments and agencies, it has been seriously criticized for lack of efficiency and effectiveness; it is often seen as epitome of maladministration. This is what has prompted the introduction of information- and communication technology in public service organizations especially in making them efficient and effective in their service delivery to the people. This is because, the success or failure of any government is often evaluated on the performance of its workforce especially public service organizations who relate directly with the people on a daily basis and this is the reason why governance around the world has evolved over time to adjust to new system or measures of confronting new and old challenges or threats which confronts man on a daily basis in order for such system to be efficient and effective in its responsibility. The study adopted was survey research method and deployed chi-square to test the stated hypothesis. It was found that information communication technology significantly affect operation of public organisation and public sector employee. Therefore, this study looks at the effect of information communication technology on the performance of public service organizations. Based on the findings the following recommendations was made that government should invest in information communication technology for both purchase of new and modern equipments that will facilitate the efficiency and effectiveness of public organizations and also for proper maintenance, There is need for consistent training of public organization employees in order to make them more productive, every public organization should be restructured to have ICT units where provision and maintenance can be guaranteed and there is need for effective political will to inculcate the use of ICT in public institutions in Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

The success or failure of any government is often evaluated on the performance of its work force especially public service organizations who relate directly with the people on a daily basis. In recent times, there has been a new proclivity towards public sector reform around the world. This trend is primarily driven by citizens, who are placing new demands on their governments in the area of efficiency, accountability, transparency and better service delivery (Edward and Charles, 2014). Therefore, the preoccupation of many countries in recent time is how to reposition their public service for effective and efficient service delivery. Consequently government of nations have taken it upon themselves to carry out various reforms in the public sector by redesigning the structures, systems and processes to improve the delivering of services to their citizens (Adeyeye & Aladesanmi, 2010 cited in Ewuim, Igbokwu and Nkomah, 2016:13).

In confronting these problem of red tapism, inefficiency, ineffectiveness of public organizations etc, information communication which is the lubricant which organization runs on and various technological innovations which is aimed at making task fast and less stressful has attracted scientific attention round the world. As defined by Jackson (1998), a strategic information system is that which helps an organization create value by enhancing its ability to achieve its strategic goals (as cited in Osibanjo and Damagum, 2011). In order words, the focus is to make public service organizations efficient and effective towards societal demands which are also a major problem in Third World countries.

Therefore, it is on this premise that Osibanjo and Damagum(2011) observe that activities’ relating to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has experienced an unprecedented evolution, leading to increased sophistication in both computer hardware, and software and the emergence of high technology driven communication facilities such as the Global System Mobile (GSM) phones, the Electronic Mail (Email), and the Internet.

The Nigeria government has since 2001 taken noticeable steps to put the country on track in the area of ICT development and utilization in governance. In March 2001, the Nigeria government launched her National Information Technology Policy and thereafter, began the implementation with the establishment of National Information Technology Development Agency (Edward and Charles, 2014).

The advent and deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria public service present opportunities for its use to facilitate effective service delivery as many countries have embraced it as a way forward (Ewuim, Igbokwu and Nkomah, 2016).