CHALLENGES IN ADMINISTERING THE CROSS RIVER STATE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, NIGERIA

Thesis Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the challenges in administering the Cross River StateMinistry of Agriculture, Nigeria. All the staff of the ministry constituted the population for thestudy. A proportionate sampling technique was used in selecting respondents, with twentypercent (20%) of respondents from each of the departments. Thus the total sample size for thestudy was one hundred and thirteen (113) respondents. Percentages, mean and frequency wereused in the presentation and analysis of the data collected. The result of the study showed that themajority of staff (85.5%) were married and 64.5% of respondents were males; the mean age ofstaff was 43.85%. About 43.5% of the respondents had Bachelor of science (B.Sc) as theirhighest educational qualification, above average (55.3%) of the staff specialized in agriculturalscience related discipline.Results revealed that the State government (85.5%) was the ministry’smajor source of funding, and 80.9% indicated that fund was insufficient. They agreed theapproved budget was three hundred and sixty nine million, four hundred and nineteen thousand,three hundred and sixty five hundred, forty one kobo (N 367,419,365.41) rather than a proposedbudget of one billion, five hundred and sixty eight million, six hundred and twenty two thousand,eight hundred and sixty three naira, zero kobo (N1,568,622,863.00) for different departments.The ministry is understaffed by three hundred and fifty seven persons (357) and lacksinfrastructure as only buildings for offices was indicated as available (71.8%) and functional(62.7%) by respondents. Major constraints identified from this result were poor funds forpurchase of equipment (M=2.18), improper and inadequate staffing (M=1.55), insufficientelectricity supply (M=2.49), inadequate funding of State ministry’s interrelationship activities(M=2.54). Results also show that the State ministry had weak linkage with universities (M=1.31)and the research institutes (M=1.37). Suggestions to address the challenges are increasedbudgetary allocation (54.5%), training and retraining of staff (58.2%), constant recruitment(36.4%), funding for research work and facilities (32.7%).