E-Governance and Local Government Administration: An Assessment of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State
TL;DR
While e-governance wields a potential for improving administrative efficiency, there were significant barriers, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited digital literacy, and resistance to change among public sector employees.
Abstract
This research investigates the impact of e-governance on administrative efficiency and service delivery in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The primary objective was to assess the impact of digital technology on the efficiency of local government administration in the study area. This broad objective informed two interrelated specific objectives of evaluating the challenges affecting the implementation of e-governance for administrative efficiency and determining if e-governance wields a potential for enhancing service delivery in the study area. Anchored on the theory of technological determinism, this study employed a mixed-methods approach combining questionnaire-generated data and interviews of local government staff officials and citizens with secondary data from relevant publications. Findings indicated that while e-governance wields a potential for improving administrative efficiency, there were significant barriers, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited digital literacy, and resistance to change among public sector employees. The study concluded that strategic investments in infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives are essential for maximizing the benefits of digital technologies. Recommendations include fostering stakeholder engagement and developing tailored training programmes to enhance digital literacy among local government employees and citizens. This research contributes valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of digital technology in public administration, particularly local government administration, thereby informing future policy and practice.