The role of information communication technology (ICT) in enhancing productivity in local government administration in Benue State, Nigeria

The rationale for this research survey is to establish the need for the third tier of government to embrace ICT to enhance its performance. The objective of this study is to ascertain the effectiveness of the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in enhancing productivity in the local government administration, in Benue State, Nigeria. The researcher adopted a quasi experimental research design technique. The population for this study consisted of all the 23 local governments in Benue State in which 5 employees were judgmentally sample using 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Pearson chi-square test was employed in testing the two (2) formulated hypothesis. The findings from the research revealed that Information Communication Technology (ICT) have played a positive role in areas of computerization of Internal Accounting, payroll operations, word processing and Budget planning and administration, job costing, scanning documentation and mapping, decision support, online training/learning, urban planning amongst others in the 23 local government areas of Benue State, Nigeria. The study also found that there exist several problems militating against ICT effective applications. These problems include lack of technical skills, acquisition of obsolete equipment, erratic power supply, ineffective regulation amongst others. The research recommended that local government administrators should make further investment in Information Communication Technology (ICT) a top priority as it is proven that it is a catalyst for development in areas of education, health, secretariat administration, proper financial reward keeping, politics, governance, culture, business and production