Assessment of Information Management in a State Public Service in Nigeria

Abstract

This study provides an assessment of information management in Oyo State, Nigeria with a view to understanding the information sources used by policy makers in the ministries, current information organisation and storage practices, and level of utiliisation of information. The paper also  examined information dissemination practices and perceived benefits of information management as well as the challenges encountered. A sample survey design was used to collect data from 374 staff from the rank of grade levels 07 to 16 in seven of the twenty ministries in the state. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The ministries used multiple sources of information; professional/academic journals and the Internet are the least consulted sources. The ministries seldom shared information/database/datasets. The dominant storage system is file cabinet. Current practice of information dissemination is through paper files, memos and reports, meetings, print media, and telephone. Major information  management practices are driven by manual systems and approaches. This report contradicts reported efforts of government to implement  egovernment. Investing in information technology infrastructure is required to create enabling environment for transition to egovernance.  Enskilling civil servants with capacity for managing information using electronic technologies is necessary to improve information management in the state public service.