Title:
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PRODUCTIVITY OF EKITI STATE WATER CORPORATION IN NIGERIA

Authors:
David Gbenga OWOSENI, Nigeria

Abstract:
Access to safe and improved water has a significant impact on people’s wellbeing, economic growth and quality of life. However, one of the major problems facing Nigerian communities today is lack of access to improved water, arising from increasing population, inadequate funding and investment in water sector by government and poor management of water production in the country. Therefore, the broad objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of management practices, control and productivity of Ekiti State water corporation services. The research design for this study was a longitudinal study design. The study considered time series data for 13 years from 2006 to 2018 on the activities of the Ekiti State Water Corporation using secondary data for the study. The data were sourced from the Ministry of Budget and planning in Ekiti State and Ekiti State Water Corporation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) techniques to estimate the multiple linear regressions between management practices and control and productivity of Ekiti State Water Corporation. The results of the study revealed that there were significant relationships between management practices and control and the productivity of Ekiti State water corporation services. The results of the findings showed that funding and investment (t= -2.111; p = 0.020), had negative significant influence and retail price (t = 3.126; p = 0.014), had positive significant influence on productivity Ekiti State water corporation services. However, operational cost (t =2.882; p = 0.068), and water consumption rate (t = 1.564; p = 0.156) does not significantly influence the productivity of water services during the period under consideration. The study concluded that since water is an essential economic good, adequate funding is required for the continual availability of service in the public water sector. Thus, the study recommended that funds should be provided for the repair of dilapidated facilities in the sector and that the Ekiti State water corporation be allowed to charge cost reflective tariff for their services in order to boost their revenue base to ensure optimal services for the citizens.