Poazi Francis WD, Jasmine OTA and Fems KM
The prime aim of this study is to investigate the commitment and business performance of PPPS enterprises in Bayelsa state. To achieve such fit, the study critically looked at the behavioural disposition of host communities, the donor agencies and government towards influencing business performances of PPPs as perceived by people working in 3 case studies of PPP organizations in Bayelsa state. So the study examined the extent of relationship between the enabling PPP laws and business performance of various public private partnerships and the economic growth in Bayelsa state. In addition the study determined the extent of relationship between the political will and climate influences business performance of public private partnerships in Bayelsa state. Thus, a systematic approach of survey research design, quantitative method and a deductive approach were applied. Consequently, the target population of the study comprises 1,417 staff of Bayelsa Palm Ltd (BPL), Bayelsa Farms Ltd (BFL) Odi and Rural Access and Mobility Project (ORAMP) public private partnership enterprises all in Bayelsa state. Our sample size was 312 out of 1,417 using the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Through the combination of the two methods of questionnaire and interview for data collections, we were able to double check results of the data gathered thus, prevailing over the biases that come with applying just a single method and increasing the validity of the results. Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were applied to test hypotheses with Pearson Chi-Square statistics, z-test statistic and Chi-Square statistics to bring the significant relationship between two variables, this allows degree of freedom, level of significance and to give sufficient validity to the tested hypotheses. The result therefore, shows that indeed there is a significant relationship between enabling PPP laws and business performance of various public private partnerships and the economic growth in Bayelsa state. Also it suggests that both political will and climate has significant influences on business performance of PPP in Bayelsa state. In conclusion, the findings of the study reaffirm the role/magnitude played by PPPs towards influencing economic development in the state and indeed Nigeria. Understandably from the findings of the study, PPPs need to represent a unique domain of inter-personal relations of all stakeholders with an improved financial commitment with utmost level of agreements in pursuant of quality business performance and service delivery. Therefore, in order to capture a sustainable performance of PPPs in accelerating economic growth in Bayelsa State and its environs, it recommends the need for government and its private investors to conduct a proper consultation or carry out need assessment programs of host communities, state or nation before setting up and subsequent implementation of the project. This again will avoid the risk of allocation of financial resources but encourage financial structuring to the right project. Thus, it is expected for current and future PPPs schemes to review or have collective, workable legal frameworks addressing all issues raised by this study, that way PPPs will be utilized and seen as a signpost of economic growth in Bayelsa State. More so, adherence to the recommendations given on this study by government and its partners will of course bring to end of the perceived lackluster and lukewarm approach, performance and implementations of PPP in Bayelsa State. In order words, citizenries will not further see PPP as a conduit pipe to enrich private pocket. Thus, significant improvement will be recorded for PPPs to perform in order to bring sanity, trust of government, BOT and other stakeholders to redirect policies of PPPs as an innovative policy vehicle of economic development geared towards mitigating the lack of efficiency and enthusiasm in the public sector.
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