Abstract:

This study examined the impact of accountability and public policy outcomes in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). A growing number of developing nations, including Nigeria, have been urged to provide excellent public services that address citizens' needs, be more responsible for their choices and deeds, and manage resources more wisely. Accountability of public officials and institutions is therefore a central concern of modern governance. A cross-sectional research design was used in the study. The study adopted the Agency theory as expounded by William Melckling and Michael Jensen as the framework of analysis. A total of 400 questionnaires were administered out of which 359 copies of the questionnaires were recovered from the five area groups which were selected through a double-stage probability sampling technique. With a total of 359 respondent’s participants in the study, this equals 89.75% of the total population. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21, was used to analyse the collected data. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The qualitative data were presented in themes analysed textually. The results of the study show that accountability acts as a check and balance in the application of DESOPADEC public policies and can guarantee that employees meet standards of performance. According to the study, integrity is fostered through responsibility when DESOPADEC's public policies are carried out. The study also discovered that by ensuring that tasks are closely related to crucial results, accountability keeps workers on track to meet mandated goals or objectives. In light of these findings, the study draws the conclusion that accountability has an impact on the outcomes of public policies just as it does on a society's socioeconomic well-being. In order to promote better outcomes for its citizens, the agency must incorporate accountability as an ethical practice to all processes, from the formulation to the implementation of its policies.