THE PERCEPTION OF GOVERNMENT ON PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTICES IN ENHANCING GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES: THE CASE OF EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

ABSTRACT  

Public relations plays a vital role in every organization , government and social institution such as the state Assembly towards achieving its set goals and objectives as an organization. This study seeks to analyse or evaluate the perception of government on public relations practices in enhancing government activities: The case of Edo State House of Assembly. To realize its objectives , the survey research method was adopted for the study, using the simple random sampling procedure to draw a sample of 88 respondents. The study uses a 10 items questionnaire as the instrument for collecting data and eliciting responses from the respondents on the topic of the study. Findings of the study indicated that public relations is perceived useful in the administration of Edo State House of Assembly as it is actively practiced in the assembly. The findings further indicated that the is a pre-existing misconception that has limited the use of public relations to just communication and crisis management functions. The study however concludes that even though the government of Edo State House of Assembly perceives public relations useful and includes it in its activities, it is yet to be given free and to properly express its functions. The study therefore recommends that government needs to change orientation to public relations and stop the culture of lip service to the professional by putting only competent individuals in change of PR activities along with a change in PR policy.