PROBLEM OF MANAGING PUBLIC CORPORATION IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE WATER BOARD, OWERRI)
ABSTRACT
Problems of Managing Public Corporation in Nigeria, A Case Study of Imo State Water Board was studied in order to find out the problems encountered in government owned companies. However, some managers in the board of directors may ignore this or even attempt to buy managements’ problems. But this will not be possible, because of its complexity. Some of their problems are inside while some are found outside the organization. in advanced countries, one of the major difficulties of managers would be how to coordinate resources to achieve corporation’s goals, but here in Nigeria, the attention of the board of directors is focused on how to siphons the proceeds of the organization just to fulfill their selfish interest. Therefore this study will look into the special challenges that face the board of directors as regards to the management of public corporation.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Problems of Managing Corporation in Nigeria, A Case Study of Imo State Water Board was studied in other to find out the problems encountered in government owned companies.
However, some managers in the board of directors may ignore this or even attempt to buy management problems. But this will not be possible, because of its complexity. Some are found outside the organization.
In an advanced countries, one of the major difficulties of managers would be how to coordinate resources to achieve corporation’s goals, but here in Nigeria, the attention of the board of directors focused on how to siphon the proceeds of the organization just to fulfill their selfish interest. Therefore, this study will look into the special challenges that face the boards of directors as regards to the management public corporations.
Government involvement in commercial activities is a world phenomenon and it should not be seen as being unique in Nigeria.
Although the history of the public corporation is quite recent in Nigeria, (dates back to the first years following the first years following the end of the world war). Since then, these corporations have grown in leaps and bounds. Among the only corporations are the National maritime Authority, Nigeria Airways, National electric Power Authority.
There is hardly any commercial activity that government does not engage in, be it commerce, industry, agriculture or even transportation. The main rational for government involvement is to achieve a greater degree of efficiency in the economy, so as to produce and make available goods and services to her citizens.
Unfortunately, contrary to efficient running of these corporation, most of them have been continuously bedeviled with mal-administration and management. At this point, it is important to discuss what management is all about. The word management may represent a distinct and organized body of knowledge, discipline or all those who are charged with responsibility of supervising the work of others. It involves getting things done through others. But the definition of management also stresses a process, social and charges human behaviour in the desire to accomplish the objectives of the organization; perhaps, the simple way to explain “management”. It is when two men cooperate to will a stone which either of them would not have done alone. Thus, the requirements of management enterprises have reached an alarming rate that many commissions of inquiries have been instituted probe into the affairs on the background that they would identify the problems and proffer solution to them. The study includes a general assessment of Imo State Corporation. A section of this study is devoted to factors and problems that militate against its efficient and effective performance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
A country like Nigeria is supposed to have efficient management establishments, where both employers and employees will be satisfied and happy but unfortunately, this has not come by
Reports and complaints from employers and employees have it that the inefficiency in management of these establishments is more or less economic. People believe that the problem should be attributed to politics and religion, while others are that tribalism, corruption and bureaucracy should have a hand in these problems. Others still maintain that nepotism and lack of training are included. However, these are more speculation have not yet been backed up by any empirical statistical evidence. Therefore, this study has been carried out to know the exact problems in the management of government enterprises in Nigeria using one of the government establishments.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major objective of the study is to identify some of the factors that cause problems in management of public corporation in Nigeria.
To make recommendation on how these problems should be solved.
To find out how these problems affect the society as a whole
To find out how these problems affect the workers performance.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Do you think that the bureaucratic setup in your organization has some effect on the performance of the workers?
Do you think that politics has something to do with the management of your enterprise?
Does government interference affect your establishments?
Are there enough co-operations between the management and subordinate in your organization?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is significant in various ways in that it will help to unveil the core management problems of public corporations.
It will help to highlight some of the benefits derived by Government Corporation as a result of efficient management.
It will also serve as an opportunity to add to the stock of knowledge already has on management of the public corporations.
The information contained in this study will be of immense assistance to government also to some other persons who might be interested in further research especially on the areas not concerned by the present study.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The research study is not aimed to studying all the facts about management problems of public corporations, rather it is concerned with the contribution of the problems as an agent that hinders the prosperous growth of the economy. The work is directed to one of the government owned establishment in Imo State by Imo Water Board Corporation.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
However, this study is surrounded with many problems which militate against its successful accomplishment, in other hand having cost minimization in mind; the researcher did not get in touch with all the government establishments but rather chose only one to represent all the government establishments. Another limitations is that because of the bureaucratic setup of the organization, the research could not access required information on from the executive, though questionnaires were sent to them for their responses. Pressure of work could not allow some of them to return there as at the time they were needed.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Corporation: These are group of persons authorized to act as an individual, especially for business purpose.
Bureaucracy: It is the system of authority, men, offices, methods that government uses to carry out its policies, programme and actions. Although the word is often generally used to refer to the system of complex organization, it is made up of an avalanche number of technical hierarchical rules used to carry out policies.
PROBLEM OF MANAGING PUBLIC CORPORATION IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE WATER BOARD, OWERRI)