Effects of Bureaucratic Bottlenecks on Public Service Delivery in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lokoja Local Government, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effects of bureaucratic bottlenecks on public service delivery in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. The major challenges highlighted were bureaucratic constraints, including bureaucratic procedures, corruption, bureaucracy and poor harmonisation among various departments. Consequently, an ex-post facto research design that adopted questionnaires collected quantitative data from public servants, citizens and policymakers of Lokoja. Based on the descriptive statistics, inefficiencies or productivity were observed with a PSD average of 58.7%, and many are delayed, especially in the health, education, and infrastructure sectors. For example, Bureaucratic Delays (BD) stood at 34.2% and corruption was at 42.8% on average. Multiple regression analysis also supported the study's hypothesis, where bureaucratic delays and corruption negatively influence PSD, with the coefficients -8.75 and -7.20, respectively. At the same time, service improvements were positively enhanced by GQ and AM with coefficients 9.80 and 8.50, respectively. Some of the findings from the study included adopting digital services, serviced-based capacity development for public servants, enhancement of anti-corruption measures, and policy development that focused on streamlining the bureaucracy. It also pointed out the need to address some governance reforms to reduce bureaucratic constraints, which were underlined in the report. It is hoped that this paper brings useful suggestions to policymakers: the bureaucratic perspective will help identify important issues that should be addressed to achieve the desired outcomes framework of public service delivery in Nigeria.