CHAPTER THREE
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In this chapter, the method used in
analyzing the democratic governance and poverty alleviation programme under
President Olusegun Obasanjo administration 2003-2007 will be discussed. For easy
understanding, this chapter will be divided into various components or sections
viz; Area of study, sources of data collection, population of study and
determination of sample size.
3.2 AREA OF STUDY
Taking into consideration the
obvious peculiarity of this work and the need to ensure reliability and proper
presentation, this research work is fashioned to cover relevant towns in
Nigeria, but was restricted to the staffs of poverty alleviation programme in
Ebonyi State
3.3 SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
This
section is dedicated to basic method and pattern employed by the researcher in
gathering data for the purpose of the study. It also demonstrated the step by
step procedure of data collection.
The researcher however, used two
major sources to collect the necessary data for the analytical review of the
democratic governance and poverty alleviation programme.
These sources were primary and
secondary sources.
TOPIC
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY
ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME:
A CASE STUDY OF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
ADMINISTRATION 2003-2007
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
3.4 PRIMARY SOURCE OF DATA
One of the primary sources of data
was the administering of the questionnaires. The researcher adopted the method
of setting out questionnaire which were designed specifically to fish out
useful information for the analysis of democratic governance and poverty
alleviation programme under Olusegun Obasanjo regime 2003-2007.
The questionnaire was set out in
simple and direct languages devoid of ambiguity of avoid misunderstanding by
the respondents which may lead to incorrect information.
The information required in the
questionnaire includes sex, martial status, education/professional
qualification, occupation, length of service, age, grade level etc.
Another source of primary data
collection was through personal interview, which was done orally. The workers
were each personal interviewed by the researcher. The advantage of this method
was that the researcher was able to get some facts that were not provided in
the questionnaire.
The interview conducted was
deliberately designed to checkmate the tendency of questionnaire being filled
by other workers different from those that were given the questionnaire
3.5 SECONDARY SOURCE OF DATA
The secondary sources of data
provided the bulk of the information for the research. This includes
presentation at various sensitization workshops on poverty alleviation and
democracy governance, government circulars on poverty alleviation, journals,
magazines, newspapers and libraries.
Another source of secondary data was
internet. Relevant materials were also collected from websites to complement
the information from textbooks and journals
3.6 POPULATION SIZE
Because of the diversity of the
country, Nigeria, the population of the study is base on Ebonyi State due to
the time and finances constraints and non-challent attitude of workers.
The entire staff of the National
poverty alleviation programme (NAPEP) in Ebonyi state numbering about two
hundred and ten (210) was used as the population for the study. This comprises
sixty (60) senior staffs and one hundred and fifty (150) intermediate and
junior staffs. These are the make up of the staffs in the Ebonyi State poverty
alleviation programme.
3.7 DETERMINATION OF SAMPLE SIZE
The sample size of this research work is determined
using Yaro Yamani formula:
Where n=sample size
N=population of study
I=constant
e= minimum error in calculation or margin or
error (0.052)
n= N= 210, e2 =0.052
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
For the purpose of this study, the researcher
administered questionnaire and oral interview to the residence of Abakaliki and
the staffs of the National poverty alleviation programme (NEPEP) in Ebonyi State.
The data collected from the
questionnaire are presented and converted to percentages to achieve the
uniformity necessary for comparative analysis. Out of one hundred and two (102)
questionnaires distributed, eighty seven (87) were returned, while fifteen (15)
were not returned.
Table 4.1 sex distribution of
respondents
|
Sex
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Male
|
60
|
69
|
|
Female
|
27
|
31
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work
Table
4.1 shows that the researcher ensured that there was justice in distribution of
the questionnaire to avoid basis by both sex. The percentage ratio is 69 to 31
respectively. This gave a fair analysis of workers impression about the policy.
It is out of place to see male out numbering the female as man dominate the
areas.
Table 4.2 Age distribution
|
Age
range
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
18-25
|
17
|
19.5
|
|
26-35
|
49
|
56.3
|
|
36-45
|
12
|
14
|
|
46-55
|
9
|
10.3
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
This table shows that the researcher
classify according to their ages. This was purpose designed to enhance better
assessment of the opinion expressed by the respondents. The age of some senior
officers were between 36-45 years, while the intermediate officers were between
the ranges of 26-35 who are more favoured by the programme.
In the above, 10% fall in the ages
between 46-55 years. Whereas, 18-25 years are mostly in schools. The
beneficiary according to the respondents are the age between 26-35 because most
of them are junior staffs.
Table 4.3 Marital Status
|
Married
range
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Married
|
42
|
48.2
|
|
Single
|
38
|
43.6
|
|
Divorce
|
7
|
8
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
Table 4.3 shows that 48.2
respondents are married people while 43.6 are single individuals among the
interviewed and 7 are divorce.
Table 4.4 qualification distribution of
responses
|
Qualification
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
GCE/O
LEVEL
|
10
|
11.4
|
|
NCE/OND
|
26
|
29.8
|
|
BSC/HND
|
35
|
40.2
|
|
MSC/MBA
|
16
|
18.3
|
|
PHD
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
Table shows that the highest
percentage which is 40.2 is those with BSC or
HND qualification. This gives the confidence to the researcher because of their
level of education. While, those with MBA and PHD were few.
However, those with GCE or O’ level
and NCE or OND are far better to those with MBA which they bodies that the
issue of poverty concerns them mostly.
Table 4.5 Rank distribution of
respondents
|
Ranks
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Directors
|
6
|
6.8
|
|
Senior
officers
|
31
|
35.63
|
|
Junior
officers
|
50
|
57.47
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
Table
4.5 shows statistical distribution of the respondents by ranks. The highest
responses of 57.47 percentage were junior staffs. The responses of directors
are 6.8 percentages. With the above analysis, it can be observed that the
junior staffs and senior officers are more favourably by this programme because
of their positions in the society. While the directors are disfavoured.
SECTION B
Table
4.6. Do you agree that the rich participate more actively in democratic setting
than the poor?
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
50
|
58
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
-
|
-
|
|
Disagree
|
27
|
31
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
10
|
11
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source:
Ogudu 200 field work.
Table 4.6.Shows that 50 or 58% of
the respondents are of the opinion that rich participate more actively in
democratic setting than the poor, 27 or 31% partially disagreed with the notion
while 10 or 11% however, rejected the above question.
From the responses there are no
doubt that rich participate more actively in democracy than the poor.
Table
4.7.Is it true that poor masses are used in democratic setting to cause crisis
than the rich?
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
55
|
63.2
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
29
|
33.3
|
|
Disagree
|
3
|
3.44
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
Table
4.7 shows that 55 respondents agreed that poor are used to cause crisis, 29 of
the respondents strongly agreed with the researcher’s question, whereas, 3
respondents rejected the notion.
With the above analysis, there is believed
that the poor are been used to cause crisis during democratic setting.
Table
4.8 Can poverty be addressed through democratic governance?
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
40
|
46
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
30
|
34.5
|
|
Disagree
|
10
|
11.5
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
7
|
8
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source:
Ogudu 2008 field work.
The above table shows that 40
respondents accepted that poverty can be addressed through good democratic
governance, 30 percentage strongly agree with the statement, while 10
respondents disagreed with the question, whereas, 7 disagree strongly with
this.
In view of the respondents the
poverty level of the citizens can be addressed through adequate democratic
governance.
Table
4.9 Democratic setting has done more harm than good to the development of
Nigeria society.
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
3
|
3.44
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
9
|
10.3
|
|
Disagree
|
20
|
22.98
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
55
|
63.2
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source:
Ogudu 2008 field work.
Table 4.9 shows that 55 respondents
strongly disagreed that democracy has done more harm than good in Nigeria
development, while, 20 respondents supported the notion; whereas 3, respondents
agreed and 9 also strongly agreed with the question.
This views that democratic
government in Nigeria has not done more harm than good in Nigeria development.
Table
4.10 Do you see any improvement as regards the poor masses since, the
introduction of poverty alleviation programme?
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
8
|
9.2
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
15
|
17.2
|
|
Disagree
|
20
|
23
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
44
|
50.6
|
|
Total
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 200 field work.
In this table, it shows that 20
respondents and 44 respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed, while 15
respondents strongly agreed whereas, 8 respondents agreed with the question.
This however, views that the poor
masses who are the target group have not benefited from this programme.
Table
4.11 Do you agree that the introduction of poverty alleviation programme
encourages corruption?
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
54
|
62
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
21
|
24.1
|
|
Disagree
|
8
|
9.2
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
87
|
100
|
Source: Ogudu 2008 field work.
Meanwhile, from the table 54
respondents are of the opinion that the introduction of poverty alleviation
programme has encourages corruption in the society, while 21 supported or
strongly agreed with the above statement. Whereas, 8 respondents disagreed with
this view and 4 respondents also strongly disagreed.
From this analysis, there is no
doubt that poverty alleviation programme encourages corruption among the staffs
and agents of this programme.
4.2 TEST OF HYPOTHESIS
In order to accept or reject the hypothesis designed
from the beginning of this study, it is pertinent then that the hypothesis are
tested and also analysed.
Hypothesis
I: People tend to express their views more in democratic setting than in
non-democratic setting. In order to determine the degree of express agreement
regarding whether people express their views in democratic setting than
non-democratic setting (50) fifty people were sampled.
Table
4.12 People tend to express their views more on democratic setting than in
non-democratic setting.
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
30
|
60
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
10
|
20
|
|
Disagree
|
5
|
10
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
5
|
10
|
|
Total
|
50
|
100
|
From
the table, 30 respondents agree, 10 strongly agreed while 5 respondents
disagreed with this, whereas, 5 strongly disagreed.
In this analysis, it means that
people enjoys freedom of speech in democratic setting than in non-democratic
era.
Hypothesis
II: The rich participate more actively in democratic setting than the poor
ones. To examine the level of agreement (50) fifty respondents were sampled.
Table 4.13 The rich participate more
actively in democratic setting than the poor ones.
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
40
|
80
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
7
|
14
|
|
Disagree
|
3
|
6
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
|
50
|
100
|
The
result in the above analysis shows that 40 respondents agreed while, 7 strongly
agreed with this agreement whereas, 3 respondents disagreed with it.
This shows that the majority of rich
people participate more actively than the poor ones in democratic governance of
a state.
Hypothesis
iii: The poor are more likely to be used in democratic setting to perpetuate
crisis.
In order to ascertain this agreement
(50) fifty people were used as sample.
Table
4.14 The poor are more likely to be used in democratic setting to perpetuate
crisis.
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
22
|
44
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
18
|
36
|
|
Disagree
|
8
|
16
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
2
|
4
|
|
Total
|
50
|
100
|
From the above analysis in table 14,
22 respondents agreed to the alternative, while 18 also strongly agreed. And 8
respondents disagreed and 2 of the respondents strongly disagreed with the
alternative.
In the fact that the poor one are
used to cause crisis in democratic governance, according to the respondents,
this statement is obviously accepted by the researcher and the analysis
therefore, the poor one are more used in democracy to cause crisis.
Hypothesis
IV. Poverty tends to engulf the rural people more in military regime than in
democratic era. To view this, (50) fifty respondents were also sampled.
Table
4.15 Poverty tends to engulf the rural people more in military regime than in
democratic era.
|
Options
|
Responses
|
Percentages
|
|
Agree
|
10
|
20
|
|
Strongly
agree
|
30
|
60
|
|
Disagree
|
-
|
-
|
|
Strongly
disagree
|
10
|
20
|
|
Total
|
50
|
100
|
From what the respondents observed
10 agreed while 30 respondents strongly disagreed whereas 10 respondents
strongly disagreed. Therefore, a large number of our respondents accepted that
poverty tends to engulf the rural people more in military regime than in
democracy owing to the fact democracy is government of the people.
4.3 DISCUSSIONS OF THE FINDINGS
It is evident that Nigeria is
destined by God to be a great nation with a large population of about one
hundred and forty million people with its agricultural potentials, minerals and
water re sources evenly distributed throughout the country.
The
country is still suffers high dosage of political instability, socio-economic
and political backwardness.
According to the researcher
findings, the respondents said that in the democratic setting the rich one
participate more actively in government than the poor. It was also strongly
believed that participation is aiming at looting public treasury and channels
it to their personal usage.
However, majority of the respondents
agreed that the poor masses are used to perpetuate crisis in democratic
government. This therefore, strongly
agreed that the poor are used like things in political setting to cause
conflict in the country. Most of conflicts in the country are caused by the
masses because of their poverty level.
Also, it was accepted that poverty
level in the country can be addressed through democratic governance. The
respondents are of the opinion that poverty among the citizens can be addressed
when good governance is ensured.
Meanwhile, many people observed that
the politics of today in Nigeria society has not done more harm than good. Again,
the option of the people shows that since the introduction of poverty
alleviation in the country, the poverty level in the society is still high.
Owing to the fact that our politician system has encourages bribery and
corruption which makes our leaders not be accountable and responsive to the
electorate. This views, that the programme has not achieve the aims and
objectives for establish it.
TOPIC
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY
ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME:
A CASE STUDY OF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
ADMINISTRATION 2003-2007
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES