Relating Staff perceptions on the Management of the Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited with tripartite Households in Akwa Ibom State

This study is the third and last of the research series on the management of the Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited. It focused on Staff perceptions on key management functions and the severity of the challenges faced by the water company. Thereafter, the study examined the relationship between Staff perceptions and three categories of households. Using the combination of the survey and quasi-experimental research designs, a sample size of 400 that comprised 200 Staff of the water company and 200 households was selected through the two-stage cluster probability sampling and the purposive non-probability sampling techniques. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires. The validity and reliability tests showed that questions in the questionnaires were valid and reliable. The descriptive analysis revealed that majority of the Staff rated the key management activities ineffective. Majority of the Staff viewed inadequate power supply, inadequate water distribution capacity, poor coordination of daily operations, and corruption in management of water infrastructure among others as very major challenges. The ordinal probit regression analysis revealed that staff experience, planning and controlling management activities have positive and significant relationship with households’ access to water services, whereas the directing management activity and government interference have negative and significant relationship with households’ access to water services. It was concluded that key management activities are ineffective. This was attributed to the severity of the challenges they face, thereby adversely affecting water supply to households. It was recommended among others that the water company needs to improve its output. The State Government should make adequate water management laws and give the water company the mandate to enforce such laws. Adequate funding should be provided to aid the water company replace damaged water pipelines. Adequate power supply should be provided to ensure the water company operates efficiently.