The role of public administration in enhancing policy implementation: A case study of Cross River State, Nigeria

Authors

  • Edem Ebong Institute of Public Policy and Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar. Author
  • Udousoro Idorenyin L. Department of Environmental Resource Management, University of Calabar, Calabar. Author

Keywords:

Capacity-building, Community engagement, Policy implementation, Public administration, Resource availability

Abstract

This study examines the role of public administration in enhancing policy implementation in Cross River State, Nigeria. It assesses the effectiveness of public administration structures and identifies challenges faced by administrators. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires and stakeholder interviews. Findings highlight key effectiveness factors such as resource availability, staff competency, technological support, and community engagement, with the latter emerging as the most crucial (frequency = 152). A Chi-Square analysis (χ² = 28.98, p = 2.26e-06) confirms a significant relationship between public administration structures and policy success. Challenges identified include resource constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, political interference, and inadequate training. The study recommends capacitybuilding initiatives, stronger community engagement, and inter-agency collaboration to enhance policy implementation. These reforms can improve governance and service delivery, aligning policies with citizens’ needs. This research contributes to public administration literature and offers practical insights for policymakers in Nigeria.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Abdi A.M. & Njoroge J. (2020). Role of Institutional Capacity Building in Establishing Effective Governance in Jubaland State of Somalia. Journal of International Business, Innovation and Strategic Management, 4(3), 55-72

2. Androniceanu A. (2021). Transparency in Public Administration as a Challenge for a Good Democratic Governance. Revista Administratie si Management Public (RAMP), (36), 149-164

3. Ansell C., Sørensen E., & Torfing J. (2023). Public Administration and Politics Meet Turbulence: The Search for Robust Governance Responses. Public Administration, 101(1), 3-22

4. Aragão J.P.S. & Fontana M.E. (2022). Outsourcing Strategies in Public Services Under Budgetary Constraints: Analysing Perceptions of Public Managers. Public Organization Review, 22(1), 61-77

5. Bryson J. & George B. (2020). Strategic Management in Public Administration. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia: Politics (pp. 1-26). Oxford University Press

6. Burns L., Le Roux N., Kalesnik-Orszulak R., Christian J., Hukkelhoven M., Rockhold F., & O'Donnell J. (2022). Real-World Evidence for Regulatory Decision-Making: Guidance from Around the World. Clinical Therapeutics, 44(3), 420-437

7. Choroszewicz M. & Mäihäniemi B. (2020). Developing a Digital Welfare State: Data Protection and the Use of Automated Decision-Making in the Public Sector Across Six EU Countries. Global Perspectives, 1(1), 12910

8. Dickinson J., Fowler A., & Griffiths T.L. (2022). Pracademics? Exploring Transitions and Professional Identities in Higher Education. Studies in Higher Education, 47(2), 290-304

9. Dunlop C.A., Ongaro E., & Baker K. (2020). Researching COVID-19: A Research Agenda for Public Policy and Administration Scholars. Public Policy and Administration, 35(4), 365-383

10. Egbonyi E.E.P., Ephraim I.E., Omoogun R.M., Ambe B.A., & Onnogen U.N. (2022). Cultural Festivals and Sustainable Economic Development in Cross River State, Nigeria. Interdisciplinary Journal of Science Education, 4(1), 142-150

11. Ferdinand E.O., Bisong B.D., & Inakefe I.G. (2021). Bureaucracy and Public Policy Implementation in the Nigerian Public Service: Some Salient Issues. Journal of Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa, 6(2), 39-46

12. Gallahue P. (2023). Law and Public Administration Ethics. In Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance (pp. 7279-7283). Cham: Springer International Publishing

13. Glyptis L., Christofi M., Vrontis D., Del Giudice M., Dimitriou S., & Michael P. (2020). E-Government Implementation Challenges in Small Countries: The Project Manager's Perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 152, 119880

14. Hwang S., Nam T., & Ha H. (2021). From Evidence-Based Policy Making to Data-Driven Administration: Proposing the Data vs. Value Framework. International Review of Public Administration, 26(3), 291-307

15. Iskandar D. (2021, July). Bureaucratic Red Tape and Discretion of Street Level Bureaucracy. In 2nd International Conference on Administration Science 2020 (ICAS 2020) (pp. 269-274). Atlantis Press

16. Kukovič S. & Justinek G. (2020). Modernisation Trends in Public Administration in Slovenia. Hrvatska i komparativna javna uprava: Časopis za teoriju i praksu javne uprave, 20(4), 623-647

17. Maulana A., Indriati F., & Hidayah K. (2022). Analysis of Bureaucratic Reform Through Delayering of Government Institutions in Indonesia. Jurnal Borneo Administrator, 18(2), 155-170

18. Meuleman L. (2021). Public Administration and Governance for the SDGs: Navigating Between Change and Stability. Sustainability, 13(11), 5914

19. Mountasser T. & Abdellatif M. (2023). Digital Transformation in Public Administration: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(10), e02372-e02372

20. Ndubuisi A.G. & Jacob O.N. (2021). Challenges Facing Administrators of Public Higher Institutions in Nigeria and the Ways Forward. Central Asian Journal of Literature, Philosophy and Culture, 2(2), 27-40

21. Onyango G. (2020). Legislative Oversight and Policy-Reforms in “Unsettled” Political Contexts of Public Administration. International Journal of Public Administration, 43(3), 213-228

22. Roberts A. (2020). Strategies for Governing: Reinventing Public Administration for a Dangerous Century. Cornell University Press

23. Rosenbloom D.H., Kravchuk R.S., & Clerkin R.M. (2022). Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector. Routledge

24. Udo R.K. (2023). Geographical Regions of Nigeria. University of California Press

25. Udoh I.I., Mpofu E., & Prybutok G. (2023). Dementia and COVID-19 Among Older African American Adults: A Scoping Review of Healthcare Access and Resources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3494

26. Vian T. (2020). Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Health: Concepts, Frameworks, and Approaches. Global Health Action, 13(sup1), 1694744

27. Yusefi A.R., Sharifi M., Nasabi N.S., Rezabeigi Davarani E., & Bastani P. (2022). Health Human Resources Challenges During COVID-19 Pandemic; Evidence of a Qualitative Study in a Developing Country. PLoS One, 17(1), e0262887

Downloads

Published

2026-05-12

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

The role of public administration in enhancing policy implementation: A case study of Cross River State, Nigeria. (2026). Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Research and Development Perspectives, 13(2), 58-67. https://mjrdp-unical.org.ng/index.php/home/article/view/123

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

21-30 of 74

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.