THE EFFICIENCY OF E-PROCURMENT METHOD AND ITS IMPACT ON PUBLIC SECTOR ON THE MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN SOUTH EAST REGION OF NIGERIA

This study mainly aimed to examine the adoption of e-procurement and its impact on public sector efficiency in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Southeastern Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed-method research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from procurement officers, ICT personnel, administrative heads, and senior staff of MDAs across the five Southeastern Nigerian States (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo), 60 persons out of the 80 targeted responded to questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools employed were multiple regression, while qualitative data were thematically analysed to enrich the findings. Multiple Linear regression Analysis was used the relationship between the efficiency of procurement and its different methods on the public sector of MDAs in South-East region of Nigeria. The findings of the results revealed that E-payment, E-request, E-Tendering had a positive relationship with the efficiency of procurement whereas E-bidding has negative relationship with the efficiency of procurement. Also, the results revealed that E-payment and E-Tendering had a significant impact on the procurement at 5% level of significance (p-values of 0.0000 and 0.0001, respectively) whereas E-request, E-tendering and E-bidding does not influence the efficiency of procurement. An R-squared of 82% indicates that 82% of the total variation in the efficiency of procurement method is accounted for by variations in E-payment, E-request, E-tendering and E-bidding; whereas about 18% of the variation in efficiency of procurement method could be attributed to variables not included in the study. Thus, the study recommended that increased investment in ICT infrastruc