Public Policy and Citizens Participation in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria 2011-2015

Abstract

Within the framework of multiple advocacy theory and elite model, an eclectic approach, the study examined citizens' participation in public policy making and implementation with specific reference to Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State 2011-2015, with the aim of indentifying the overall impacts, benefits as well as factors hindering citizens' participation in public policy making and implementation. A total of 220 participants were selected through multi-stage and simple random sampling technique. Frequency counts and percentage were utilized in realizing the data collected. The findings show that overall impact of citizen participation in the making and implementation of policy in Ngor Okpala local government is not all influential; the study equally revealed that there is lack of official support for citizens to fully participate in public policy. Therefore, the study recommend among others, that the public should be re-oriented on the importance of citizen's participation and target beneficiaries should be involved at the formulation and implementation stage of public making in order for them to have an input in decisions that affects their lives, thereby giving them a sense of belonging and of commitment.