An Assessment of Public Relations Strategy as a Tool to Promote Government Policies to the Citizenry; the Practice of Anambra State Government

An Assessment of Public Relations Strategy as a Tool to Promote Government Policies to the Citizenry; the Practice of Anambra State Government

INTRODUCTION

The issue of Public relations in government involves the use of  appropriate and effective communication system to produce, project and sustain government’s goals, aspirations, programmes, activities and policies to reach the ultimate beneficiaries of the programmes, in most cases, the community.  Nwosu (1996, p.204) says that: Whether military or civilian, government must have the support and acceptance of the citizenry to be effective and to even survive for a reasonable period. In theory and in practice, every government derives its legitimacy or rights to govern from the people or citizens. In a true democracy, government is voted in by the people to hold power, influence and control on behalf of the collectivity, of the masses or citizenry

Chapter One of  An Assessment of Public Relations Strategy as a Tool to Promote Government Policies to the Citizenry; the Practice of Anambra State Government

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nwosu (1996,p.204) however opines that very often, many people in government, especially those in developing countries, seem to forget the relevance of public relations in the government circle and as a result, they operate as if they can do without the support and the acceptance of the citizenry. They run state affairs as rulers or feudal lords, instead of leaders or servants of the people, for whom they hold political power and trust. But the theory and practice of modern governance teaches that government, like any other social institution, must be accountable to the people and operate in the people’s interest.

Black (1976, p.140) says that public relations is an essential part of management and this is true in central government as in industry. The function of public relations in government is essentially non-political. Public relations in a government department have two main tasks; to give regular information on policy, plans and achievements of the departments and to inform and educate

the public on legislation, regulations and all matters that affect the daily life of citizens. It must also advise ministers and senior officials of reaction and potential reaction to actual or proposed policies.

The research intends to provide an assessment of public relations strategy as a tool to promote government policies to the citizenry with a case appraisal of the practice of anambra state government.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The efficient running and management of government affairs and activities lies with promoting and implementing programmes and policies that impact on the citizenry. In this regard the citizenry fully understand and appreciate the activities of government thereby enhancing harmony and mutual benefit between government and the people. However this goal often is far from being attained as the government implements its policies without the impact and understanding of the citizenry. Therefore the problem confronting this research is to provide an assessment of public relation strategy as a tool to promote government policies to the citizenry with a case appraisal of the practice of anambra state government

RESEARCH   QUESTION

1    What is public relation, functions and significance?

1        What is the nature of public relation strategy as a tool to promote government policies to the people

2        What is the nature of public relation practice  of anambra state government

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1    To appraise the nature of public relation, functions and significance

2    To determine the nature of public relation strategy as a tool to promote government policies to the citizenry

3     To determine the public relation practice of anambra state government.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study is to project the importance of creating synergy, understanding and mutual benefit and impact between the government and the citizenry

STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

1 Ho The level of public relation practice in anambra state is low

Hi   The level of public relation practice in anambra state is high

2   Ho The challenges of public relation practice in anambra state is high

Hi The challenges of public relation practice in anambra state is low

3   Ho The impact of public relation strategy as a tool in promoting government policies in anambra is low

Hi     The impact of public relation strategy as a tool in promoting government policies in anambra is high

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research focuses on the assessment of public relations strategy as a tool to promote government policies to the citizenry with a case appraisal of public relations practice in anambra state.

DEFINITION   OF TERMS

PUBLIC RELATION PRACTICE DEFINED

A PR Practitioner is a liaison between his institution and the publics. He is responsible for setting public relations policy to represent the corporation or agency to the publics and for conducting research to provide adequate feedback from the publics to the institution.

.PUBLIC RELATION PRACTICE IN GOVERNMENT

. Public relations in government in brief, is the concerted efforts of the government officials to establish appropriate and effective communication system that enables

them to produce project and sustain government’s goals, aspirations, programmes, activities and policies to reach the ultimate beneficiaries of the programmes, in most cases, the community.