Influence of National Policy on Public Private Partnership on Infrastructure Project Delivery

Influence of National Policy on Public Private Partnership on Infrastructure Project Delivery

CHAPTER ONE

Content Summary

Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to assess Influence of national policy on public private partnership on infrastructure project delivery in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to:

To investigate if there is any significant relationship between Influence of national policy on public private partnership on infrastructure project delivery.
To determine the effect of government partnership with the Private sector in service delivery.
To find out if public private policy promote efficiency in public service.
To identify the ways by which private investors can be attracted to Nigeria, and Imo State in particular.
To make recommendations for better application of PPP in public organizations in Nigeria.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

PPP as we earlier noted is core a feature of New Public Management (NPM). While NPM in its length and breath is an approach that employs private solutions to remedy public sector problems. The focus here is to explore views on PPP. Public- Private Partnership (PPP) is an arrangement where private parties participate in or provide support for the provision of infrastructure or public sector provided facilities. It describes a government service or private business venture which is founded and operated through a partnership between government and one or more private sector company. PPP is not the procurement of an asset but the payment of a stream of services under specified terms and conditions.

According to Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) of Nigeria, (2011), ―A Public-Private Partnership is a contractual agreement between a public agency (Federal, State, or Local) and a private sector entity. Through this agreement, the skills and assets of each sector (public and private are shared in delivering a service or facility for the use of the general public. In addition to the sharing of resources, each party shares in the risks and rewards potential in the delivery of the service and/or facility‖. The goal is to combine the best capabilities of the public and private sectors for mutual benefits.

On the account of (Ministry of Municipal Affairs, British Columbia, 1999), PPPs are arrangements between government and private sector entities for the purpose of providing public infrastructure, community facilities and related services. For (Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships, 2009), PPP is cooperative venture between the public and private sectors, built on the expertise of each partner, that best meets clearly defined public needs through the appropriate allocation of resources, risks and rewards.

In a similar vain, (Lawther, 2002) in (Mbanasor and Nwachukwu, 2011:2), defined Public-Private Partnership as a relationship among government agencies and private or non profit contractors that should be formed when dealing with services or products of highest complexity in comparison to traditional contractor consumers relationships. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) describes a government services or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies, Obozuwa (2011:1). He further reiterated that a PPP arrangement provides assets and delivers services by allocating responsibilities and business risks among the various partners. In this arrangement, he opined that government remains actively involved throughout the projects life cycle. The private sector is responsible for the more commercial functions such as project design, construction, finance and operations. This distinction of responsibilities is secured by agreements.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research design

This study employed a descriptive survey method. In this study both primary and secondary methods of data collection were utilized as self-structured questionnaires were distributed among respondents in the study area in order to collect information. Secondary method involved the use of study materials such as books, journals, ebooks, magazines, library and so on.

Area of Study

This study is located in Imo State, one of 36 states in Nigeria. It is bounded by Benue and Kogi States to the North, Ebonyi State to the East, Abia State to the South and by Anambra State to the West, from which it was carved out in August 27, 1991. Imo State has a total land area of 8,022.95sq kilometres with a population of 3.3 million persons (National Population Commission, 2006) and therefore a population density of 248 persons per square kilometre, Nweze (2002:3). The state is divided into 17 Local Government Areas and three senatorial zones viz; Imo East, North and West.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Data Presentation and Analysis

This chapter evaluates the responses from the respondents as it relates to the objectives of the research. Their opinion is illicited through the questionnaire structured in five point scale i.e. (a) Strongly Agree (b) Agree (c) Undecided (d) Disagree and (e) Strongly Disagree. The essence is to avoid ambiguity in their responses, and to easily enable the researcher aggregate their responses for statistical analysis.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Summary

This study is carried out in five chapters. Chapter one dealt with background information on PPP as a New Public Management strategy most viable and timely for Nigeria and Imo state in particular to bring about infrastructural development. Statement of the problem, which is a pointer to the problem the work intends to address, has a link with the objectives of the study. The significance of the study indicates the relevance of the work to the wide society followed by scope and limitations of study which shows the expanse or time horizon of the research and the challenges encountered in attempt to carryout the research.

Chapter two is focused on detailed review of existing literatures on PPP as a viable option for infrastructural development in Nigeria and the case of Imo State. This is followed by the hypothetical propositions in line with the objectives of the study and explanation of key concepts or terms prevalent in the research, and ended with the research procedure.

Chapter three provides a detailed account of the implementation of PPP strategy in Imo State. Chapter four includes data presentation, analysis and interpretation while chapter five ends with summary, conclusions and recommendations on how to sustain and maximize the benefits of PPP

strategy in Imo State.

Recommendations

Sustainability: Government in Nigeria is popular for programme abandonment and discontinuity, especially when there is administration change. As was earlier noted currently there are massive PPP programmes in Imo State and to a reasonable extent they are all working. Therefore, Imo State government should endevour to keep these programmes running beyond the administration that initiated them in as much as they remain relevant and meet needs. They should not be scarified on the alter of political gerrymandering which is the trade-mark of Nigerian politics.
Even spread of infrastructures: The evidence that the administration of Sullivan Chime has done much in terms of infrastructural development is not lacking but most of them are within the urban confine. Therefore, there is the need to open up the rural areas the more through infrastructural establishments. This will decongest Imo Metropolis of overcrowd and discourage rural-urban migration in the state.
Improving the already existing relative security to attract more

This will bring about more employment generation, economic

empowerment, reduction of social vices and political stability in the state.

Conclusion

The fundamental responsibility of good government is service delivery. When any government becomes incapable of delivering services to its citizenry, that implies its expiration. Therefore, government endlessly seek for the most cost-effective means of delivering services to the people while keeping afloat. As such, successful governance in this 21st century requires every hand on the desk i.e. partnership where possible and at all levels. This was why Mbanasor and Nwachukwu (2011:3), maintained that, ―it has become old fashioned to argue whether public ownership was always the best or whether privatization was the only answer. Government firmly believes it will only deliver the modern, high quality public services that the public want and increasingly expect to draw the best from both public and private sector‖. What matters most to the government is the approach that will most likely deliver the peoples’ needs.

Following the daunting recurring political and economic challenges to the government both at state and federal level, collaborative government has become the order of the day and good enough, Imo state is updated with the trend.

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