COVER
PAGE
THE
ROLE OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL
CAPITAL TERRITORY WATER BOARD ABUJA
ABSTRACT
This
study examines the role of public utilities in National Development using the
Federal Capital Territory Water Board Abuja as a case study. The hypothesis
that public utilities plays an important role in National Development, Federal
Capital Territory Water Board have administrative and Financial capability to
discharge its responsibilities, public utilities have no contribution to
National Development, Federal Capital Territory Water Board does not have
administrative and financial capabilities to discharge its responsibilities
were analyzed using chi-square techniques. To further accomplish the task, a
sample of 100 respondents was taken by administering questionnaire and rate of
return was 100%. The analysis revealed that public utilities are significant to
the achievement of National Development. The study therefore recommended that
government at all level should increase the funding of public utilities in
Nigeria. Also it calls for prudent and transparent uses of funds meant for the
development of public utilities
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page…………………………………………………………………………………………i
Declaration …………………………………………………………………………………………………ii
Approval
Page…………………………………………………………………………………iii
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………….iv
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………….v
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………vi
Table of
Contents……………………………………………………………………………………vii
List of
Table………………………………………………………………………………viii
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
…………………………………………….........................................1
1.1 Background
to the study
1.2 Statement
of the problem
1.3 Objectives
of the study
1.4
Research Questions
1.6 Statement
Research Hypothesis
1.7 Significance
of the study
1.8 Justification
of the study
1.9
Scope and of the study
1.10 Definition
of terms
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Concept
of public Utilities
2.2 Meaning
and Nature of Development in Nigeria
2.3 Theoretical
Framework
2.4
Literature on the subject Matter
2.4.1 Public
Utilities and National Development
2.4.2 Problems of public utilities in Nigeria
2.4.3 History
of Federal Capital Territory Water Board Abuja
2.4.4 Organizational
Structures of Federal Capital territory Water Board Abuja
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 Research
Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Sources
of Data
3.3 Population,
Sample size and techniques
3.4 Methods
of Data Collection
3.5 Method
of Data Analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Data
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Data
Presentation and Analysis
4.3 Test
of Hypothesis
4.4 Discussion
of Findings
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.0 Summary,
Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
Appendix and
Questionnaire
LIST
OF TABLE
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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0
INTRODUCTION
A
public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for public
services, subject to firms of public control regulation ranging from local
community based groups to state – wide government monopolies . The term
utilities can also be refers to the set of services provided by these
organizations consumed by the public such as gas, water and electricity.
public utilities tend to be monopolized with only
one utility company from each industry serving as market to prevent utility
companies from taking advantage of their monopoly position government usually
either own them or regulates their activities often involve national monopolies
and as a result are often government monopolies or (if privately owned) treated
as regulated sector public utilities can be privately or publicly owned. Public
owned utilities include cooperation and municipal utilities. Municipal
utilities may include territory outside or city limit or may not serve the
entire city, while cooperation utilities are usually found in rural areas.
1.2 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
The
establishment of public utilities in Nigeria can be traced to the end of the 19th
century and the beginning of 20th century when Nigeria was
incorporated into the world capitalist system, accomplished through the agency
of British imperialist state which markets the commencement of the capitalist
development of the country.
Olukoshi
(1986) assets that, the earliest development corporation were regionally based
as established to perform certain role defined within the limit permitted by
the inherent nature of capitalist development in general.
The
creation of public enterprises is an important strategy used by Nigerian government
to translate into reality its developmental programmes to allocate public
resource, in order to accelerate its pace of development. It is in line with
this strategy that, the number of public enterprises in Nigeria was increased
from about 50 in 1960 to about 800 in 1982 (Adamolekun 1983:5). The Udoji
commission (1974) also confirmed that, in 1966 the total number of public
enterprises was about 170. It rose to 230 in 1975 and about 300 in 1977
respectively. Since then, many public enterprises have been established by the
Federal, State and local government in Nigeria.
Elias
(1974:75) observes that, since the end of the Second World War, the public
sector has been widening largely as a result of increasing state activities through
the establishment of public corporation and state’s own companies as agencies
of economics and social development.
According
to Hanson (1972:15), the basic reason for establishing public enterprises has
been to propel development.
The
importance of public enterprises is also confirmed in section 16(1) (b) of the
1999 constitution which gives Federal Government the right to manage and
operate the major sector of the economy.
Although
most of the public enterprises did not live up to expectation from 1980s, a lot
of factors forced a rethinking of the role of public enterprises. Such factors
include; the pervasive inefficiency of the public enterprises in performing the
role and their heavy burden on public finance.
These
factors led to the privatization of some of those enterprises. Besides, this issue
of privatizing public utilities in Nigeria generated a lot of controversy. Many
Nigerians cannot afford the services of these utilities. It is in view of the
above factor that this study seeks to examine the role of public utilities in
National development taking the Federal Capital Territory Water Board Abuja as
its case study.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
World
Bank cited in Anyanwu (1997:379) public utilities literally mean power, piped
water supply, telecommunications, sanitations and sewage, solid waste
collection and disposal. The effective functioning of these utilities will help
in improving the well being of the people and to promote national development.
Unfortunately,
public National utilities have continued to attract a lot of criticism from the
public who hold the belief that, these
public utilities have not lived up to expectation especially in the area of
providing the public with essential services. This state of affair has brought
the following posers into consideration: firstly, what factor if any inhibit
the performance of public utilities as an instrument of national development?
Secondly, in what way can the performance of public utilities be improves?
Therefore, these study seek to address the above reflected questions as it
relates to the performance of federal capital territory water board, Abuja.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed at achieving the
following objectives:
I.
To ascertain the role of public
utilities in National Development;
II.
To identify the factors that affect the
performance of public utilities in Nigeria;
III.
To examinee the extent to which federal
capital territory water board has fulfilled its objectives of providing
portable drinking water to the people of federal capital territory Abuja;
IV.
To suggest measures that could be put in
place to enable the federal capital territory water board to provide quality
services to the people.
1.5
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
I.
What is the role of public utilities in
National Development?
II.
What are the factors that affect the
performance of public utilities in Nigeria?
III.
To what extent has federal capital
territory water board fulfilled its objectives of providing portable drinking
water to the people of federal capital territory Abuja?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
This
research guided by the following hypothesis
1. H1:
Public utilities play an important role in National Development.
Ho: Public utilities
have no contribution to National Development.
2. HI:
Federal Capital Territory Water Board have administrative and financial capability to
discharge its responsibilities.
HO: Federal Capital Territory Water
Board does not have administrative and financial capabilities to discharge its
responsibilities.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
In
any case, public utilities are fundamental resources that a country can harness
in the quest for a rapid national economics and social development.
The
significance of this study lies in the fact that, it will bring to lime light
the extent to which public utilities particularly the federal capital territory
water board have been contributing to national development since the study will
appraise its level of contribution or otherwise to natural development.
The
significance of this study lies in the fact that, it will bring to limelight
the extent to which public utilities particularly the Federal Capital Territory
Water Board have been contributing to
national development since the study will appraise its level of contribution or
otherwise to national development.
The
research also will benefit the government by providing adequate information
concerning the activities of the public sectors (public utilities) as well as
the problems confronting these sectors especially the FCT Water Board, Abuja.
Moreover,
recommendations made on the administrative and managerial aspects of Federal
Capital Territory Water Board will help shape its operations in congruent with national
development goals.
Nevertheless,
when completed this study will serve as a useful reference material to
subsequent research with the same area of interest.
1.8 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
The
reason why the research is being conducted is to investigate the challenges of
public utility in Nigeria using the Abuja water as a case study. The study is
an empirical research of that explores descriptive method. This study is to
examine the effect of this approach since the demand for better public service
delivery is dwindling.
Moreover,
the study will provide recommendations on how to ensure employees participation
in decision – making for better and improved commitment to organization
productivity, human resources development and the achievement of organizational
goals.
1.9 SCOPE OF STUDY
Basically
this study is confined to the FCT Water Board, Abuja. It however covers the
period of five years (2010 – 2014). This period is considered relevant because
it reflects the realities of the recent times especially as regards public
utilities in Nigeria.
Although,
references are made to other public utilities where necessary.
1.10 DEFINITION OF TERMS
In
this study, the meanings of the following terms apply:
Public utilities:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia defined public utilities as “a company that maintains the infrastructure for public services”
Public Enterprise:
Aire (1986:2) defined public enterprise as organization created by partly or wholly
owned and largely controlled by public authority (Federal, state or local government)
and which are supposed or expected to operate along commercial, industrial or
profit making lines (even if they also have social objectives).
Development:
Development can be described as a type of social changes in which new ideas were introduced into a higher per capital income and
level of living through more modern
production method and improved social organization (Rogers, 1969).
National Development:
National development can be conscience as the creative and positive transformation of all aspect of our national life social,
cultural, political and economic
(Tende 2004:126-127).
Privatization:
Privatization is a process of the public sectors toward the pursuit of
efficiency and effectiveness in the attainment of
objectives with dominance of financial considerations through the adoption of
management styles that reward good and panelize
poor performance (Hemming and Mansor 1988: 5).
REFERENCES:
Adamolekun, L. (1983)
Public Administration: A Nigerian and comparative perspective. London:
Adamolekun, L. (1993)
politics and Administration in Nigeria: Ibadan Spectrum Books.
Anyanwu, K.C. (1997)
Public Administration in Nigeria: Implication in Development and Sustenance.
IF
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