International Journal of Public Administration and Management Research

Internal Audit Quality and Performance of Internal Auditor’s in Government Ministries in Kenya

2025-03-13T08:10:15+00:00

Internal audit quality is one of the fundamental elements in governance, accountability and operational efficiency within government ministries in Kenya. The study explored the relationship between internal audit quality and performance of internal auditors, with a focus of three key measurement indicators: audit reports, the number of accepted audit recommendations and the outcome of peer reviews. The study employed descriptive research design, incorporating quantitative analysis of audit reports and recommendation acceptance rates, alongside qualitative insights from peer review outcomes. Data was collected from internal audit units across selected government ministries through surveys, interviews and document analysis from a target population of 41 respondents. The study concluded that internal audit quality significantly influenced performance of internal auditors in government departments by underscoring the need for government departments to capitalize on uninterrupted improvement of internal audit quality to improve efficiency, accountability and public sector performance. The study recommends that the government top management can strengthen the policy and regulatory framework such as aligning internal audit frameworks with government financial management reforms and anti-corruption initiatives to encourage reporting of audit-related malpractices.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence (IA) on Service Delivery in Tertiary Education Sector of Benue State, Nigeria

2025-03-20T08:37:30+00:00

This study examined the impact of artificial intelligence (IA) in service delivery of tertiary education sector in Benue State. Seven research hypotheses were tested in the study. The study employed a survey research design Population for this study comprised all administrators from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Benue State University and University of Mkar, Mkar. The sample size of 284 respondents was used for the study. Data for the study was collected using structured questionnaire. Data for the study was analysed using descriptive statistical tools of percentages mean, standard deviation and inferential statistical tolls of analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC). The result of finding shows no significant difference between the mean responses of university administrators on the impact of artificial intelligence on administrative balance in tertiary education service. The finding also revealed no significant difference between the mean responses of male and female university administrators on the impact of artificial intelligence on service quality. It was found significant relationship between artificial intelligence and efficiency of service delivery. The finding of the study also revealed significant relationship between artificial intelligence and good service culture of tertiary education workers. Result of the study revealed significant relationship between artificial intelligence and employee engagement in tertiary education sector. Finding of the study revealed significant relationship between artificial intelligence and the productivity of tertiary education workers. Finally, the result of finding revealed significant difference between the mean responses of male and female university administrators on the factors militating against efficient use of artificial intelligence in tertiary education service. The study concludes that artificial intelligence can serves as a useful instrument in the administration of tertiary education service in Benue State. To ensure smooth administrative balance in the tertiary education service, the study recommended that artificial intelligence should be adopted for in all units and departments of the tertiary education service. The administrators should ensure that the complex algorithms, human interface as well as software malfunction; the cultural and religious barriers affecting effective use of artificial intelligence are eliminated for effective use of artificial intelligence.

Understanding Politics and Failure of Public Enterprises through Board Appointments: A Perspective from Nigeria

2025-04-15T12:52:55+00:00

The major objective of this study is to examine how the appointment of incompetent political loyalist to boards of public enterprises by incumbent government ruined public enterprises in Nigeria. Public Enterprises in Nigeria were established after independence with a view to speeding up socio-economic development. It is most worrisome that haven established them, they are characterized by some impediments. In most cases, public enterprises in Nigeria are compelled by the incumbent government to donate money to the ruling party for elections and other purposes. Such interferences by government affect the performance of public enterprises. This study used the qualitative research method. Secondary data was mainly used in data collection. The content analysis method was applied to analyze the secondary data obtained from textbooks, academic journals, newspapers and internet services. The theoretical framework adopted for this study is the theory of “scientific management approach” this study finds among other that government appoints incompetent and illiterate political loyalist to boards of public enterprises in Nigeria as members. It is further recommended among others that competent and seasoned technocrats be appointed to boards of public enterprises in Nigeria with a view to making sure that majority of the citizens have access to essential goods and services at a reasonable price. The findings of the study will be of great importance to public administration as a discipline, it will enrich existing literature in public administration and will be used as a policy instrument for government and policy makers.

Flexible Work in Canada’s Public Administration: Balancing Employee Engagement, Productivity, and Well-Being

2025-04-16T10:47:15+00:00

The COVID-19 pandemic created urgent circumstances that pushed public administration workplaces to build rapid, flexible work arrangements, including remote work solutions. This revealed potential workforce advantages and organizational weaknesses. The analysis in this review explores how flexible work arrangements shape public administrators working in Canadian public organizations. The research reviews modern academic works about work-family conflict, employee engagement, productivity results, and public service cultural transformations. The implementation of flexible work arrangements improves work satisfaction and life-work balance and creates potential adversities that cause worker alienation and unequal workplace conditions. The review proves that purposeful policy work generates optimal flexible work benefits with minimal adverse impacts.

Employee Development and Retention Strategies in Bayelsa State Local Government Service Commission

2025-04-30T20:06:54+00:00

This study investigated the relationships between employee development proxy by continuous development programmes and on-the-job training, retention strategies proxied by competitive pay and career development programmes, and workforce competence and employee retention in Bayelsa State local government service commission. A descriptive correlational research design was used, with surveyed data collected through structured questionnaires on a Five-point Likert scale. The sample consisted of 126 local government employees selected through stratified random sampling, achieving a 94.4% response rate. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis was employed, revealing strong positive correlations between the variables. Continuous employee development programmes had a significant positive correlation with workforce competence (r = 0.82, p < 0.05), while on-the-job training showed a similar correlation (r = 0.79, p < 0.05). Competitive pay (r = 0.85, p < 0.05) and career development programmes (r = 0.80, p < 0.05) were both strongly correlated with employee retention. These findings depicted that employee development and retention strategies are key factors that can influence workforce competence and retention in Bayelsa State local government service commission’s settings. Based on these results, it is recommended that Bayelsa State local government service commission should prioritise continuous development of its employees, incorporate practical training, implement competitive pay structures, and offer career development opportunities to enhance employee competence and retention in the commission.

Financial Change and Performance of Cooperative Credit Unions in Rural Communities of South East, Nigeria

2025-05-08T20:56:08+00:00

This study examined the effect of financial change on the performance of Cooperative Credit Unions (CCUs) in Rural Communities of South East, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the organisational size and structuralist perspective theory propounded by Kimberly (1976). The study employed a survey research design, the population comprised 9209 management committee and members of CCUs. Krejcie and Morgan's 1970 sample size determination formula were employed to ascertain a sample size of 524 participants. The data for the research were sourced through the primary source, and the form of the primary source used was a Likert-structured questionnaire. The study deployed a direct collection method through face-to-face means. The validity of the questionnaire was determined using face and content validity, while the reliability was ascertained using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient (0.848). The data collected were analysed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics, and hypotheses tested at a 5% level of significance. The findings from the study showed that financial deepening has a statistically significant effect on ROE (R = .968; R-Square = .936; F statistics = 6569.276; t = 81.051; p-value < .000); that financial service quality is positively and statistically related to employee size (R = .981; R-Square = .963; F statistics = 11629.339; t = 107.839; p-value < .000) and that financial literacy positively and statistically affects members’ satisfaction (R = .975; R-Square = .951; F statistics = 8758.118; t = 93.585; p-value < .000). The study, therefore, concluded that financial change has a statistically significant effect on performance of CCUs in rural communities of South East. Sequel to this, among others, it was recommended that rural CCUs need to implement and refine financial deepening strategies, including optimising liquidity management and diversifying investment options. The study contributes to the model needed to maintain the balance between democracy and organisational efficiency of CCUs practices.

Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Business Performance: Evidence from Small and Medium Enterprises in Emerging Markets

2025-05-13T10:27:54+00:00

Given the seemingly widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by big businesses and its impact on their performance, this study investigated the performance implications of AI adoption, focusing on Generative AI and ChatBots on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capability among Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in southeastern Nigeria. The study adopted a a survey research design, a structured questionnaire was distributed electronically to 371 digitally literate SME owners which constituted the sample size from a population of 11,231 SMEs across the five south-eastern states in Nigeria, with 310 valid responses analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis at a 5% level of significance. The findings revealed a notable gap between awareness and actual usage of AI tools. While SMEs demonstrate moderate awareness of Generative AI and ChatBots, practical application remains significantly low. However, the perception of their potential benefits, such as improved content creation, faster customer responses, and enhanced service delivery, is highly positive. Regression results confirmed that both Generative AI and ChatBot usage significantly and positively influence CRM capability, jointly accounting for 98.1% of the variance. The study concluded that despite low adoption rates, AI technologies hold strong potential for enhancing CRM among SMEs. To bridge the gap between awareness and usage, the study recommended increased capacity-building, subsidised access to AI tools, and integration of AI support into SME development policies. These measures can empower SMEs to leverage AI for sustained competitiveness and customer satisfaction in the digital economy.

Assessment of the Impact of Salary Policy on the Quality of Administrative Staff in Higher Education Institutions

2025-05-14T18:21:19+00:00

Salary policy plays a central role in improving the quality of administrative staff in higher education. This study investigates how existing pay structures affect motivation, performance, and organizational commitment among administrative personnel in public universities located in Hanoi, Vietnam. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study proposes practical policy reforms to enhance compensation systems, especially in the context of increasing demands for institutional autonomy and ongoing educational reform.

Keywords: Salary policy, administrative personnel, higher education institutions, workforce quality, job motivation, organizational commitment.

The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Faculty Engagement in Academic Research

2025-05-16T20:07:07+00:00

Despite the recognised potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there is limited understanding of how AI literacy training programs influence faculty engagement and how AI tools enhance collaborative interactions among researchers and students. Hence, this study examined the influence of AI on faculty engagement in academic research at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State. Specifically, it assessed the effectiveness of AI literacy training programs on cognitive engagement and evaluated how the utilisation of AI tools improves emotional engagement among academic staff. The research adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 291 academic staff selected using Krejcie and Morgan's formula, and data were collected through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to interpret the data. The results revealed that AI literacy training significantly enhances cognitive engagement, increasing faculty confidence, motivation, and involvement in AI-related research tasks. Emotional engagement was also positively influenced by the use of AI tools, which promoted collaboration, improved communication, and enhanced the quality of peer feedback. However, the study also found a gap between awareness and actual usage of AI tools in academic practice. The findings underscored the need for universities to intensify AI literacy programs, support the practical use of AI tools, and provide ongoing evaluation to sustain engagement. The study concluded that AI, when properly implemented, can serve as a powerful catalyst for faculty development and research productivity in higher education institutions.

Repositioning Local Government System in Nigeria for Efficient Service Delivery: The Need for Constitutional Review

2025-06-10T09:50:59+00:00

A lot of powers were given to the States over Local Government Councils by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sates in exercise of these powers has reduced Local Governments from being a tier of national government to a mere administrative appendage of the states. This overbearing influence of State on Local Government has seriously undermined the efficiency of local government system in Nigeria. Efforts were made in this work to identify areas of constitutional controversies, upon which States exercise powers and manipulations over Local Government councils, and as well to understand the impacts a constitutional review would have on efficient local government system in Nigeria. To achieve this, the study formulated three hypotheses, and adopted descriptive survey using questionnaire to elicit information from over 168 respondents purposively selected among employees of local government system in Nigeria. The study is anchored on Efficiency Services Theory which postulates that the efficiency of local government system is measured by its ability to provide services to the local populace. Statistical analysis of data collected and testing of hypotheses revealed that; there are constitutional provisions about local government system in Nigeria, but, the constitution did not guarantee the independence of local government as a tier of national government. Also discovered is that States exercise powers over local government system in Nigeria, and these powers are derived from the constitution; and that a review of the constitution will guarantee efficient local government system in Nigeria. Base on the findings above, the study recommends among others; A review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, complete autonomy of local government system to be enshrined in the constitution, and adequate measures to ensure that local government councils funds are tied properly to projects that are relevant to the rural populace.

Educational Governance and Compliance: An Assessment of Adherence to Uganda’s Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards in Mbarara City

2025-06-20T06:04:14+00:00

This study assesses the governance dynamics influencing the effectiveness of school inspections in enforcing the Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards (BRMS) in Mbarara City, Uganda. Using quantitative from the Inspections Assessment report and qualitative data gathered from education officials, school leaders, and community stakeholders, the study highlights important governance issues compromising the inspection regime including weak institutional capacity, limited inspector autonomy, insufficient resource allocation, and poor stakeholder involvement. According to the findings, shortcomings in internal school governance and lack of transparent dissemination of inspector’s findings undermine accountability and harm educational quality. Nestled within the broader framework of governance, the study underlines the need of enhancing regulatory control, empowering local governance organizations, and promoting community participation to raise compliance and service delivery. The paper concludes with pragmatic recommendations designed to improve governance mechanisms so that school inspections might be effective tools for ensuring equity and quality of education in Uganda and other decentralized educational systems of a similar nature around the world.