Communication Strategies and Organizational Harmony in Local Government Councils in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined communication strategies and organizational harmony in local government councils in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to find out the communication strategies employed by the leadership of local government Councils in Akwa Ibom State, find out the rationale for the use of such communication strategies, determine if the communication strategies used by the leadership of local government councils in Akwa Ibom State do enhance organisational harmony, determine communication strategies preferred by the majority stakeholders in the local government councils studied, find out other factors that engender organisational harmony in the local government councils studied. The research design adopted for the study was survey, with questionnaire and interview schedule as research instruments. The population of the study were staff in Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene local government councils in Akwa Ibom State is 1,374. A sample size of 286 was drawn for the study using the Taro Yamane formula. The study which anchored on System theory and the Interactional theory revealed that majority of the respondents in the council studied affirmed that sporting activities contributed to harmony in the council. Also, the study revealed that across the local government councils studied that religious activities similarly led to organisational harmony, the study found out that the leadership of the local government councils in Akwa Ibom State represented by Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene utilised memo, letter, meeting, telephone, seminar and worship (solemn assembly) as a means of reaching out to their employees. Email was not used at all. It was recommended that local government councils should endeavour regularly to carry out communication audit to evaluate their performances. This should prove invaluable in helping them decide necessary changes that they need to make to ensure smooth running of the councils, the leadership of the local government councils need to incorporate the use of email for exchange of messages across the councils, telephone is an important tool that the councils use effectively in communication with subordinates. The principal officers and supervisors need to improve on their telephone etiquette, particularly in the use of language and tone during conversations. The impact of telephone in engendering interaction and relationships are overwhelming and should be embraced by the councils.