DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA'S CIVIL SERVICE. A STUDY OF SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

This study examined the role of e-administration in human resource management in the Nigerian Local Government Service, with particular reference to the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service. The study was motivated by persistent challenges associated with manual human resource management practices, including inefficient personnel record management, payroll irregularities, poor administrative coordination, and weak performance monitoring. Specifically, the study investigated the influence of Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS) on employee record management efficiency, the effect of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) on administrative efficiency on employee productivity monitoring and performance accountability. The study adopted both descriptive and survey research designs. The population comprised 1,400 employees drawn from six selected Local Government Councils and the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service Commission. A sample size of 302 respondents was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and percentages, while the four hypotheses were tested using the Chi-square (χ²) statistical technique at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that Electronic Records Management Systems significantly improved employee record management efficiency (χ² = 1486.31, p < 0.05); Human Resource Information Systems significantly enhanced administrative efficiency (χ² = 1454.38, p < 0.05); payroll automation systems significantly improved timeliness and accountability in salary administration (χ² = 1584.73, p < 0.05); and Electronic Performance Management Systems significantly strengthened employee productivity monitoring and performance accountability (χ² = 1573.66, p < 0.05). The study therefore established that the adoption of e-administration technologies has a statistically significant and positive influence on human resource management within the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that government should fully institutionalize Electronic Records Management Systems, strengthen and integrate Human Resource Information Systems, enforce comprehensive payroll automation, institutionalize Electronic Performance Management Systems across all departments, and provide robust ICT infrastructure and technical support to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of e-administration initiatives in the Nigerian Local Government Service.