The categorization of public policy is a reflection of rests and idiosyncrasies of scholars of public policies. It equally centers on the ecology of the political system and focuses on the internal operation, issues and clientele.
For the purpose of this study, four categories are adopted for discussion:
1. Distributive
policy
2. Redistributive
policy
3. Constituent
policy
4. Regulatory
policy
DISTRIBUTIVE POLICY
This
a brand of public policy that concerns itself with who gets what, when and how.
It is the authoritative allocation of government revenue to a en section of the
society or to a particular beneficiaries in a bid to respond to their needs. According
to Ikelegbe (1996: 16):
These are policies
which involve incremental dispersal, unit by unit, to different segments of the
population, and to individuals and institutions.
The distributed values are in form of favours, spoils, benefits and patronage to some people or group of individuals and organizations. In distributive policy, the government stipulates the mode and method sharing the national or the common wealth (Okereke, 1998:7). As the most common form of policy, it uses general tax revenue to provide benefits to individuals or groups.
When federal, state or local government allocates specific grant for the purpose of solving public problems such actions are distributive policies. Some benefits are distributed without taking them away from other people, for example, free education: emergency services projects, provision of water or electricity. But this category of policy does not involve confrontation or dissent from beneficiaries. It rather brings the people closer to government and vice versa.
In the final analysis, distributive policies constitute the nerve- center of politics and governance. The policies decide what individuals or groups benefit or favour due to them in the society. As a response to the policy demand, the government comes up with patterns of impartial distribution of these resources to satisfy the citizens.
RE-DISTRIBUTIVE POLICY
Re-distributive
policies involve transfer of resources of benefit from large groups or classes
of people to another segment of the society. This is done through position of
taxes on the advantages and used to assist the less privilege. There is gain
and loss relationship among the beneficiaries of re-distributive policy. The
benefits are discriminatory since the gain of one is the loss of the
other. Class interests in this regard always characterize the distribution of
resources, group or Class-related conflict and bargains. Such policies as Pay
As You Earn (PAYE) tax system, Value Added Tax (VAT), welfare for disabled or
impaired groups in the society, and educational policies are anchored on
re-distributive principle. Most re-distributive policies are non-factual,
especially at the stage of policy application since those not favoured could
challenge and accuse government of deprivation and marginalization. In Nigeria,
Education Tax Fund (ETF), Value Added (VAT), Petroleum Tax Fund (PTF) and so on
are examples of redistributive Policies.
The government collects tax through these means and redirects the fund to other areas of need. In so, the gain and loss outcomes take place because while some group, pay, other groups benefit.
REGULATORY POLICY
The
history of government has always been linked to the desire of mankind to be
secure through law and order. This informs the introduction of regulatory
measures. Thereafter, regulatory policy is a design to harmonize the actions of
groups so as to protect the citizens. As Egonmwan (1993:12) puts it:
Regulatory policies
are those involving setting of standards and ivies to restrict the activities
of sonic groups in the society in order to prevent undesired consequences of
their action.
The essence of regulatory policies is to prescribe code of conduct in human relationship, especially in the private sector relation enterprises. The policies include enactments to ensure that human relationship is conducted according to accepted norms, as prescribed by the policy. Regulatory policies have succeeded in changing the society characterized by brutality and nastiness to a society of tolerance and understanding.
The
regulatory policies are always associated with punishment that results from
breach or violation of rules or laws. In this case, sanction, coercion and
incarceration are always applied as the instruments for realizing regulatory
policies.
In Nigeria, regulatory instruments and institutions include Labour Law, Land Use and Allocation Act, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency; (NDLEA) Other regulatory agencies include National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joint Administration matriculation Board (JAMB), Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and so many others. As a regulatory policy aims at Providing protection and regulations of competition they are sometimes difficult to make and implement because of interest in bargain.
In Nigeria, regulatory instruments and institutions include Labour Law, Land Use and Allocation Act, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency; (NDLEA) Other regulatory agencies include National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joint Administration matriculation Board (JAMB), Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and so many others. As a regulatory policy aims at Providing protection and regulations of competition they are sometimes difficult to make and implement because of interest in bargain.
CONSTITUENT POLICIES
These
are broad based policies that encompass all
sectors of national life. They do not focus on Individuals for benefit or
Punishment. They intended to favour the government and the public. Such
policies as foreign policy and defence policies are examples. The special
Concern is on legislation
affecting the structure and function of government s as well as Policies
governing their operations Nigeria,
the following are some policy laws as Constituent Polices: The Unification
Decree of 1966, the National Youth Service Corps Decree of 1973, the
Universal Education policy of 1999 among others.
- PROBLEMS OF POLICY EVALUATION - PUBLIC POLICY
- POLICY EVALUATION TECHNIQUES - PUBLIC POLICY
- TYPES POLICY EVALUATION - PUBLIC POLICY
- POLICY EVALUATION - PUBLIC POLICY
- DETERMINANTS OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION RESULTS - PU...
- POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STAGE - PUBLIC POLICY
- STAGES OF POLICY FORMULATION - PUBLIC POLICY
- POLICY FORMULATION - PUBLIC POLICY
- PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION IN PUBLIC POLICY
- PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS
- THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO PUBLIC POLICY STUDY
- FEATURES OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
- THE PROCESS OF POLICY ANALYSIS
- CONCEPT OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
- EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
- RELEVANCE OF STUDYING PUBLIC POLICY
- WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PUBLIC POLICY
- WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF PUBLIC POLICY
- WHAT IS THE MEANING OF PUBLIC POLICY
- FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION