THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN ENUGU STATE:.

THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN ENUGU STATE:

ABSTRACT

This study was on the impact of public policy implementation in Enugu StateAgricultural Development Programme (ENADEP) 2001-2012. The study inquires into critical issues of policy implementation failures, such as corruption, regime instability, executive interference, “top-down” and “bottom-up” policy approaches, statutory incoherence, etc and attempts to identify, examine and analyze those of the variables that have contributed to the low pace of development in the agricultural sector in Enugu State. Employing the documentary study approach, secondary data relevant to the inquiry were collected from ENADEP progress annual, quarterly, field and implementation completion reports (ICR), journals, Federal and State ministries of agricultural and natural resources research reports, the examination of seminar papers, published and unpublished works, textbooks, conference proceedings as well as detailed and rigorous interviews of key stakeholders and specialists in the field. The following major findings emerged from the study; first, there is frequent executive interference in the internal affairs and management of Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme by the state government resulting in frequent high level management staff turn-over particularly with regard to the office of the Project Manager with the attendant consequence of protracted delays in the execution of project activities. Second, there is a clear lack of prudent management of available project funds, occasioned by the high rate of corruption and diversion of project funds by the state government. Third is the issue of farmer’s lukewarmness and conservative attitude to technological changes in the agricultural field. Finally, based on the findings, the following recommendations are made: (1) it was clear from the study that executive interference and politicization of the office of ENADEP’s Project Manager contributes to the ineffectiveness of ENADEP, (2) identified also, was the issue of low staff morale occasioned by the non-payment of staff salaries and entitlements. This gave rise to the use of seconded ministry staff that does not pay loyalty to ENADEP management to perform crucial functions. To secure the commitment of staff for better and effective policy implementation, ENADEP should be made to hire and retain enough staff capable of its services.