Effect Of Information And Communication Technology On The Performance Of Public Service Organisations

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).

However, prior to the introduction of information communication technology in the Nigerian government ministries, departments and agencies, it has been seriously criticized for lack of efficiency and effectiveness. This is what has prompted the introduction of ICT advancement on how tasks are done in public organizations. However, the indept evaluation of how it has affected the performance of public organization over the years has been a major concern considering the quantum of resources that has gone into it. It is on this note that this study seeks to investigate the intricacies of ICT and public service organization in Lagos State Waste Management Agency.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

The problem with the public service in developing countries is synonymous with one another, a visit or engagement with the Nigerian public service has been popularly characterized with criticism, it has in most cases left empirical experience of inefficiency, ineptitude, ineffectiveness, staff lackadaisical attitude, red tapism, corruption etc. Ewuim et al(2016)further argue that public service delivery in Nigeria has been described as poor, inefficient and ineffective. It is often subject of ridicule because of its rigidity. There are problems of corruption, transparency and accountability, high cost of administration and wastage.

In view of this, ICTs integration in government has widely been advocated by scholars and development agencies as a means to obtain efficiency, accountability, and transparency in governance (Stanforth, 2007 as cited in Edward and Charles, 2014). The introduction of information technology by the federal government in 2001 has subsequently opened the door for states within the country to entrench and feel the impact of globalization in its system. In other words, Edward and Charles (2014)states that such arguments have led many African governments, including Nigeria, to undertake various e-government initiatives to prop up development. Since its introduction, there have been a number of e-government initiatives that dots the African landscape.

Thus, in Nigerian public service, ICT has been referred to as an effective tool to ensure increased access to government services, improved value for money as well as increased productivity, transparency and better service delivery (Achimugu, 2011; Ewuim, Igbokwu and Nkomah, 2016).However, the effect of information communication technology has come in various ways and has impacted in so many ways how public sector organization operates. But although the impact has been felt in some public organization, most of them have not been able to maximize the benefits which it offers. Rather than move the organization to another level just as it has been in other part of the world, most of these organizations have been revolving round those imminent problems within its system like inefficiency, ineffectiveness etc. Fatile (2012) observe that Government departments in many developing countries publish information on web sites as a first step towards e-government. Many of these sites are poorly designed and the department does not update or monitor the quality of information.

From the foregoing, we can deduce thatthe deployment of Information and Communication Technology in the public service delivery has not made much difference (Ewuim, Igbokwu and Nkomah, 2016). This has been a major problem for scholars and development agencies whichis what this study seeks to unravel.