THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN ENHANCING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE

(A STUDY OF ENUGU POLICY COMMAND)

ABSTRACT

This issue of public relations has been an aged long topic in Nigeria. The Nigeria police has been a subject of discussion in many research works. However, not many research works has been done on the role of public relations in enhancing the performance of the Nigerian police. This study looks into the concept of public relations in respect to the police force. The findings made in this study shows that the public has little or no trust for the force and that the Nigerian police are in a pressure to enforce the laws and order of a nation that has very little consideration for the messes. Thereby, making the police an enemy instead of a friend to the masses. This study discovered that all things being equal, public relations play a tangible role in enhancing police performance. It also suggested possible solutions to problems related to the Nigerian police force.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION                                                                   1

• Background of Study 1
• Statement of Research Problem 5
• Objective of the Study 6
• Significance of the Study 6
• Research Question 7
• Research Hypothesis 8
• Definition of Terms 8
• Assumptions 9
• Scope of the Study/Delimitation 9
• Limitation of the Study 9

References                                                                    11

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW                                                        12

2.1    Source of Literature                                                      12

2.2    Defining Public Relations                                             12

2.3    Components of Public Relations                          16

2.4    What Public Relations is Not                                        19

2.5    Public Relations and Related Concepts                        22

2.6    Jobs of Public Relations                                               25

2.7    Origins of Public Relations                                   36

2.8    Trends Leading to the Development of Modern

Public Relations                                                            37

2.9    Social Structure and Policing in Nigeria                       40

2.10  Internal Control System of the Nigeria Police Force     44

2.11  Theoretical Framework                                                 50

2.12  Summary of Literature                                                 55

References                                                                    57

 

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY                                                                   58

3.1    Research Method                                                          58

3.2    Research Design                                                           58

3.3    Population of Study                                                      59

3.4    Sampling Technique                                                     59

3.5    Determination of Sample Size                                      60

3.6    Measuring Instrument                                                  61

3.7    Validity and Reliability of Measuring Instrument         62

3.8    Method of Data Collection                                            63

3.9    Method of Data Analysis                                               63

3.10  Expected Result                                                            63

References                                                                    64

 

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND RESULTS           65

4.1    Data Presentation and Analysis                                    65

4.2    Testing of Hypothesis                                                    69

4.3    Discussion of Results                                                   71

References                                                                    74

 

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION

AND RECOMMENDATIONS                                                 75

5.1    Summary of Findings                                                   75

5.2    Conclusion                                                                    76

5.3    Recommendations                                                        78

References                                                                    83

 

Bibliography                                                                  84

Appendix                                                                       88

LIST OF TABLES

 

Table 1:     Primary role of Nigeria police force in

Enugu command                                                          66

Table 2:     Level of trust the respondent have for the

Police force                                                                    67

Table 3:     The happiness of respondent towards Nigerian

police force public                                                         68

Table 4:     How public relations enhance the performance

of the Nigerian police?

CHAPTER ONE

 

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Formal pubic relations practice in Nigeria can be traced back to January 1, 1944 when the British colonial administrators established the first Public Relations Department. The department was headed by Mr. D.C. Fletcher, as the leader of a group of staff, which included a public relations officer, an assistant public relations officer, a process engraver, a press officer, a publicity artist, an antiquities officer, a photographer, a films officer, a radio officer and a confidential secretary. The function of the department was mainly to carry out “public enlightenment” programs relating to government activities. The colonial administrators targeted selected publics, such as Nigerian soldiers who participated in World War II as part of the British Army. After Nigeria gained its independence in 1960, the pubic relations department was transferred to the newly created Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) where it continued with information activities for its various publics. Typical information and public health campaigns focused on the eradication of communicable diseases such as yaws, yellow fever, and tuberculosis, and were often at the request of the WHO (World Health Organization). The FMI was also used to campaign for the success of government education programs through the cinema and open air film shows which encouraged parents to sent their children to school.

The first pubic relations professional body, the Public Relations Association of Nigeria (PRAN), was founded by Dr Samuel Epelle, Director of PR at FMI. Epelle was influential for the development of public relations practice in Nigeria and in 1967, he published the first authoritative book on PR in Nigeria, Essential of Public Relations. Epelle, as PRAN’s founder, become its coordinator and chairman and worked to recruit colleagues from other governmental departments and private industries to join him in enlarging PRAN’s membership (Oyekan, 1993). In 1969 PRAN was renamed the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and several years later, it organized the annual Sam Epelle gold medal in his honour, which in 2008 still continues to be awarded.

The establishment of PRAN in 1963 was the first independent step taken by Nigerians to consolidate public relations practice in the country. However, whilst PRAN was still in its infancy the political instability and subsequent 1966 military coup interfered with the professionalization of public relations. At this point the public relations practice did not have professional standards, educational qualifications, or a developed practitioner “tool kit”. PRAN also had to deal with similar issues relating to pubic acceptance, nomenclature, and reputation that plagued Western public relations professional associations.

Nigerian public relations practice was shaped by both political events and crises. The Nigerian civil war, which began shortly after the first military coup, followed by approximately 30 years of military dictatorship (from 1966-1979 and then again from 1984-1999), had an impact upon the development of public relations practice. As well as this, the Niger Delta crisis and Nigeria’s relatively recent democratic governance have continued to influence the shape of public relations practice and its professionalization.

Police job involves a variety of tasks and responsibilities. Police officer are expected to prevent an control crimes, protect lives and property, enforce laws, maintain peace and order as well as provide a wide range of services for citizens. A common trend which unifies the diverse activities is that potential for violence, the need and the right to use coercive means in order to establish social control. Policemen act as the representative of the coercive potential of the State and the legitimate users of reasonable force usually explain their attitudes and characteristics. Broadly, Modern Police Forces are assigned the primary duty of law enforcement and maintenance of order. The contents of law and what constitutes order vary widely across times and nations and are determined by the political economy of societies.

By maintaining order and enforcing laws in consonance with the principles and practices of a democratic society, the Police will foster entrepreneurial initiatives and public safety which are critical for development and human cooperation. It is in these respects that the Police can make positive contributions towards change initiatives. Some of the major concerns of the poor apart from material deprivations and lack of access to services are their vulnerability to insecurity, crime and denial of due process rights (World Development Report 2000/2001). That is why public relations is a very vital tool in institutions such as the Nigerian Police force.

 

• STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

In an ideal society, the police at all times ought to be servants of the people. If this is the case there would be no antagonism and hostility between the police and the communities they serve. However, the literature on police and policing reveals that the police are often in conflict with a significant percentage of the population in almost all countries of the world (Alemika, 1999; Reiner, 2000; Alemika and Chukwuma, 2000). This is so far largely two factors. Firstly, modern societies are diverse in economic, social and cultural compositions, which mean that the police cannot be neutral in respect of competing and sometimes antagonistic class relations no matter how hard they try. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, police are agencies of the state employed to maintain the social order in which the interests of the rulers and the dominant economic class are paramount. Therefore, police enforcement of the laws and maintenance of social order which promote the interests of the ruler to the detriment of the majority of the population, inevitably put them in hostile relations with their host communities across countries (Alemika, 1999). This public relations attitude of the police affects the general masses to a large extent as their trust for the police force is hampered.

 

• OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To find out if the Public understands the primary role of the Police force.
2. To investigate into the level of trust the Public have for the Police force.
3. To find out how happy the public is with the Nigerian Police force.
4. To find out if public relations affects the role of the Nigerian Police force.
5. To review the factors that influences the relationship of the Police force with the public.
6. To suggest ways of amending the attitude of the police force to the public.

 

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work is significant in many ways.

1. To the Police Force: The results of this findings would help the police force identify the need for public relations practice and apply it.
2. To the Masses: This research work would help the masses observe their rights and interprete the actions of the police force properly.
3. To other Researchers: The procedures observed in this research work would help the researchers their work.

 

• RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. From your point of view, what do you understand as the Primary role of the Police force?
2. What is the level of trust the respondent have for the Police force?
3. How happy is the respondent with the Nigerian Police force?
4. Do public relations enhance the performance of the Nigerian Police?
5. What are the factors that influence the relationship of the Public force with the Public?
6. What are the possible ways of amending the attitude of the police force to the public?

 

 

 

 

• RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:   Public relations does not enhance the performance of the Nigerian Police

H₁:    Pubic relations enhance the performance of the Nigerian Police.

Ho:   Respondents are happy about practice of public relations by Nigerian police force.

H₂:    Respondents are not happy about practice of public relations by Nigerian police force.

 

• DEFINITION OF TERMS

Pubic Relations: The British Institute of Public relations (BIPR) defines pubic relations as “the deliberate planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organization and its publics”.

Police Force: The civil force of a sate, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of pubic order.

Enhancement: To make greater, as in cost, value, attractiveness, etc.; heighten; augment.

 

 

• ASSUMPTION

It is assumed that after this study, the public relations officer would be in a better position to know the best strategy to get its external and internal publics satisfied.

He would be in a position to work for the goodwill of the organizations, as to increase is profits.

However, the management of the organization would be in a position to equip the public relation officer, so he can discharge his duties efficiently.

 

• SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is primarily centered on the role of Public relations in enhancing the performance of the Nigerian Police. A study of Enugu Police Command.

 

• LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Uzoagulu (1998:167) limitations of the study refers to shortcomings, difficulties and problems found in the design and the execution of the research project which in the views of researcher could affect the fidelity and generality of the findings. In this study which is a part of class work, there are some obvious limitations which include:

• Limited time frame for in-depth investigation.
• Lack of fund to sample many respondents in the Enugu Police Command.
• Problems of accessing information as some of the respondents refused to open-up and give responses to some probing questions.
• Lack of co-operation by the members of public as some prospective respondents refused to accept the researcher’s questionnaire copies for undisclosed reasons.

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