Patterns of communication flow and organizational effectiveness in Local Government Councils in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined pattern of communication flow and organizational effectiveness of Uyo and Etim Ekpo local government council in Nigeria. The objectives of the study were Ascertain the pattern of communication flow prevalent in Uyo and Etim Ekpo Local Government council in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Assess the extent to which communication policy and organizational structure affected the communication flow patterns in Local Government Council, determine the extent to which communication flow pattern in Uyo and Etim Ekpo Local Government council enhances organizational/effectiveness, find out the barriers to effective communications flow and organizational effectiveness in Uyo and Etim Ekpo Local Government Council, determine the extent of employee satisfaction with the pattern of communication flow in Uyo and Etim Ekpo Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study was survey with questionnaire and interview schedule as instrument of the study. The population of the study comprised subjects who are staff of the select local government councils. The staff strength of the two local government councils stands at 1,876, with Etim Ekpo Local Government having a staff strength of 424 while Uyo Local Government Council has 1,452 as at the time of this study according to the Akwa Ibom State, National Bureau of Statistics. The sample size of 187 for this study was determined using 10% systematically drawn from the population of each local government. Findings reveals that majority of respondents 75 (42%) agreed that the prevalent communication pattern was vertical (Downward communication). That is communication from top to bottom (management to subordinates). Furthermore majority of respondents 120 (70,50) representing 67% (39, 28%) were of the opinion that communication flow pattern enhances organizational effectiveness to a very great extent and a great extent respectively. This implies that communication flow enhances organizational effectiveness among other findings. It was recommended that the administrators of Uyo and Etim Ekpo local government council in consonance with local government service commission should look into their communication pattern and improve it. The extent of use of communication should be increased to further foster organizational effectiveness. Staff should be trained regularly to overcome the barriers to effective communication which are lack of proper planning, organizational barriers, semantic barriers, noise, poorly expressed messages, poor listening and distrust.