Assessment of Organizational Reform and Effectiveness in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

Since Nigeria's return to democratic governance in 1999, governments at Federal and State levels has been reforming the civil service, agencies and the economy as a whole. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency undergone reforms in the year 2000 in order to make it efficient and effective. The agency before the reforms had weak structures, corrupt and adjudged being ineffective to the extent that it was decertified by the United Nations and other countries the agency is collaborating with. It also lack adequate funding as well as accountability. The study investigated the relationship between organizational reforms and effectiveness of Agency. Survey research design was adopted and a sample size of 1,008 staff drawn from the population of 3,405 staff of the agency. Stratified sampling technique was used and questionnaire was administered on these categories of staff sampled; top level management staff, senior officers and junior officers. Simple percentages were used and regression statistics was employed to test the relationship between organizational reforms and effectiveness, through reform proxies, such as statutory allocation, number of command, drug seizure/arrest and conviction. It is found that the reforms provided an elaborate administrative structure with clearly spelt responsibilities. It also gave the agency direction, high degree of authority relationship between the leaders and the subordinates and changed the perception of the public and international community from inept to an effective organization. In conclusion, the reforms brought out the best from Agency; carefully harnessed human characteristics of the workers, as well as directing their efforts through purposeful leadership. The study recommended that NDLEA should use flexible, decentralized structure rather than centralized structure. Furthermore, the agency should devise ways to allow the workers to monitor and measure their own performance. The agency should be adequately funded, trained by international collaborators to aid the gains of the reform.