EFFECT OF E-GOVERNMENT ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY OF FEDERAL MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES (MDAs) IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The need for accountability and transparency in public sector management has become a global challenge, especially in the 21st century which necessitated the study titled the effect of e-government on public accountability of federal ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria with the independent variable as e-government proxied as e-payment, e-information, e-procurement and e-service delivery while the dependent variable as public accountability. The survey research design which made use of primary data drawn from five-point likert scale structured closed-ended questionnaire of three (3) selected federal ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria. The theories in which this study underpinned were technology acceptance model (TAM) theory and diffusion of innovation theory. The SPSS version 25 software statistical package was used for coding of the questionnaire respondents and panel ordinary least square for the study. The multiple regression model was adopted in determining the extent of the effect of independent variable (e-government) on dependent variable (public accountability) of the banks under consideration. The result of the regression analysis revealed that e-payment and e-service delivery have positive and insignificant effect on public accountability of federal ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria. The result also indicated that e-information and e-procurement have positive significant effect on public accountability of federal ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria. The implication of the result is that any increase unit change in the e-government proxies will result to the same unit increase change in the public accountability. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that the government should continuous evaluation and get feedback from users are key to ensuring that e-government continues to evolve and be relevant to citizens' needs. Therefore, a sustainable e-government development strategy must integrate technological innovation with an inclusive and participatory approach, ensuring that any changes not only bring technical efficiency but also improve the quality of interaction between government and society.