Journal of Public Administration, Policy and Governance Research

Knowledge Management and Staff Productivity in University of Calabar Library, Cross River State, Nigeria

2025-06-27T04:20:37+00:00

The study assessed knowledge management and employee productivity at the University of Calabar Library in Cross River State, Nigeria. Four research questions and four hypotheses were developed and evaluated to fulfil the study's objectives. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on the relevant factors and applying knowledge spiral theory by Nonaka and Takeuchi in 1995. The research utilized an ex post facto design, using a sample of two hundred and twenty-four (244), constituting 50% of the total population under investigation. Measurement and evaluation specialists from the department of educational foundation University of Calabar evaluated the primary data gathering tool with a structured questionnaire. A Cronbach alpha reliability test was conducted to assess the instrument's reliability with a sample of fifty (50) library workers from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) who were excluded from the study. The obtained data was analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Coefficient, revealing that knowledge use greatly impacts staff productivity in the University of Calabar library. The paper recommend that library personnel should have the opportunity to get information from many sources to enhance their productivity.

Impact of Policy Implementation Strategies on Service Delivery Efficiency in Local Government Areas in Nigeria

2025-06-27T04:49:50+00:00

This study investigates the impact of policy implementation strategies on service delivery efficiency in Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, drawing on the Top-Down and Bottom-Up Theories of Policy Implementation to explain the dynamics of execution at the grassroots level. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the study engaged 48 purposively selected participants including local government officials, state-level policymakers, community leaders, frontline service providers, and residents across six LGAs representing each geopolitical zone: Calabar Municipal (South-South), Enugu North (South-East), Irepo (South-West), Bosso (North-Central), Jalingo (North-East), and Bichi (North-West). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis, and analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that ineffective policy communication, lack of alignment between policy goals and local realities, poor resource allocation, weak monitoring and evaluation systems, and political interference are major impediments to efficient service delivery. The study recommends participatory, context-sensitive implementation frameworks that prioritize stakeholder inclusion, resource adequacy and sustained monitoring to improve grassroots governance and public service delivery.

Stigma and Mental Health Service Utilization in Nigerian Psychiatric Hospitals

2025-06-27T06:00:21+00:00

Mental health challenges remain a major public health concern in Nigeria, yet psychiatric service utilization is notably low despite the availability of specialized hospitals. This study examines stigma as a critical barrier to accessing mental health services, with a focus on its sociocultural dimensions and implications for healthcare delivery. Stigma, often rooted in perceptions of mental illness as spiritual affliction, weakness, or moral failing, significantly deters individuals from seeking professional care. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research was conducted across three major psychiatric hospitals in Nigeria, involving quantitative surveys with 450 patients and caregivers, and qualitative interviews with 30 healthcare providers and community leaders. Results showed that 68% of respondents delayed or avoided psychiatric care due to fear of being labeled "mentally unstable." Women and rural residents exhibited greater reluctance due to stigma. Cultural beliefs linking mental illness to supernatural causes often led individuals to seek help from traditional healers instead of medical institutions. The study also highlights systemic challenges, including inadequate mental health education, poor integration of services into primary care, and stigmatizing attitudes among healthcare staff. However, patients exposed to psychoeducation or community support were 40% more likely to maintain engagement with psychiatric care. These findings underscore the urgent need for anti-stigma initiatives, culturally tailored education, and policy reforms to improve mental health service access. Addressing both individual and structural factors is essential for reducing the burden of untreated psychiatric conditions and enhancing overall public health in Nigeria.

Effect of Public Budget Transparency on Citizens Trust in Government Institutions in Nigeria

2025-06-27T06:39:26+00:00

This study explored the effect of public budget transparency on citizens' trust in government institutions in Nigeria using a qualitative phenomenological approach. The research focused on capturing citizens’ lived experiences and perceptions regarding the accessibility, clarity, and openness of budget information, and how these factors influence their trust in institutions such as ministries, departments, local councils, and revenue agencies. A total of 30 participants, purposively and snowball-selected from South-West, North-Central, and South-South geopolitical zones, were engaged through semi-structured interviews. Participants included civil society members, youth advocates, community leaders, market association members, and local taxpayers with exposure to budget processes. Data collection involved both face-to-face and virtual interviews, each lasting 45–60 minutes, and was analyzed using thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework with NVivo software. The findings revealed that limited access to timely and comprehensible budget information, coupled with weak public engagement, significantly undermines citizens’ trust in government institutions. The study concludes that enhancing public budget transparency through inclusive, accessible, and accountable practices is critical to restoring institutional trust in Nigeria.

Quality Assurance Practices and Sustainability of Secondary Education System in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

2025-06-28T18:40:02+00:00

This study investigated the effect of quality assurance practices on the sustainability of the secondary education system in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted, and a stratified random sampling technique was used to select 186 public secondary schools from a population of 233 schools across the Local Government Areas. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument, the Quality Assurance Practices and Sustainability of Secondary Education System Questionnaire (QAPSSESQ). The instrument comprised three sections covering demographic data, six quality assurance variables (30 items), and four sustainability dimensions (24 items), all measured on a four-point Likert scale. The instrument showed high reliability, with sub-scale coefficients ranging from 0.79 to 0.91 and an overall reliability index of 0.94. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, and hierarchical multiple regression. The findings revealed that quality assurance practices significantly predict the sustainability of the secondary education system across social, economic, environmental, and instructional dimensions. Specifically, regular teacher quality assessment, performance evaluation, and resource adequacy were found to positively influence teaching effectiveness, infrastructure maintenance, curriculum relevance, and overall school improvement. The study concluded that enhancing quality assurance mechanisms is vital for achieving sustainable education outcomes in secondary schools. It recommended that education stakeholders institutionalize structured quality assurance frameworks, intensify teacher evaluations, and ensure adequate provision of learning resources to sustain the education system in the state.