Wasiu Abiodun Makinde
The traditional model of public administration inherited by Nigeria from British colonial rule by Nigeria was insufficient during the developmental state that followed independence. New Public Management strategies adopted was aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public service delivery. The study adopted a mixed-method survey research design by collecting quantitative data from Krejcie and Morgan deduced 357 sampled respondents from randomly selected federal ministries of Nigeria, and qualitative data from purposively selected service users and senior civil servants from the randomly selected federal ministries at the Federal Secretariat complex, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data, and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The study revealed that accountability for result (β=0.219, P-value=0.000) has positive and significant effect on public service delivery in Nigeria, decentralisation of decision making (β=0.052, P-value=0.437) has positive but insignificant effect on public service delivery in Nigeria, performance measurement (β=0.025, P-value=0.453) has positive but insignificant effect on public service delivery in Nigeria, performance contracting (β= -0.052, P-value=0.041) has negative but insignificant effect on public service delivery, and use of information technology (β=0.170, P-value=0.000) has positive and significant effect on public service delivery in Nigeria. These mixed outcomes of NPM strategies showed a “word and deeds” gap that prevent full potential of all New Public Management strategies in enhancing public service delivery in Nigeria. The study concluded that accountability for result and use of information technology has positive and significant effect, decentralisation of decision making and performance measurement has positive but insignificant effects, and performance contracting has negative but insignificant effect on public service delivery in Nigeria.