Digital Governance and Service Delivery in Oshimili Local Government Area, of Delta State

Abstract

This study examined Digital Governance and Service Delivery in Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of accountability mechanisms on public service delivery and to examine the influence of citizen participation on public service delivery in Oshimili Local Government Area. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total sample size of 254 respondents was used, selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that accountability mechanisms have a significant positive effect on public service delivery (β = 0.421, p < 0.05), indicating that improved transparency, monitoring, and financial control enhance service efficiency. The study also found that citizen participation has a stronger and significant influence on public service delivery (β = 0.503, p < 0.05), suggesting that increased involvement of citizens in governance processes improves responsiveness and service quality. The model showed a strong explanatory power with R² = 0.68, indicating that accountability mechanisms and citizen participation jointly explain 68% of variations in service delivery in the study area. The study concluded that digital governance significantly enhances service delivery in Oshimili Local Government Area, with citizen participation playing a more dominant role than accountability mechanisms. It was therefore recommended that the local government should strengthen digital accountability systems, enhance citizen engagement platforms, improve ICT infrastructure, and ensure effective implementation of digital governance policies to achieve improved service delivery outcomes.