COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF BUHARI ADMINISTRATION (2015-2021)

Abstract

This Project examines Communication, Public Relations and Crisis Management: A Study of Buhari Administration (2015-2021). To achieve this, the survey research method was adopted. The researcher uses the number of the population as the sample size; this is because the population is already small to reduce as we know that the purpose of sample size is to reduce the large number of population. Three research questions guided the study. Research findings showed that public relations play a vital role in crisis management. In view of these findings, the researcher recommended that every good organization must have public relations department, with well qualified staff and provide them with basic facilities to work with like security camera etc. The researcher suggested that Buhari administration. should imbibe public relations as a philosophy of management and all organization should be made to appreciate the place of public relations in the country

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Public relations play a vital role between an organization and its public. Its practice aims at establishing a two-way communication, seeking common ground or areas of mutual interest and establishing understanding based on truth, knowledge and full information. It is that indispensable bridge that fosters co-operation and understanding. With increasing intensity, the civil society is rather active than passive in the affairs that concern them. Similarly, organizations are more socially responsible in their business undertaking in reference to public opinion. The reason is not far fetched. Today’s organizations, no matter how pretentious they are, are aware that they need to build dependable relationship with their publics. However, it is obvious that no matter how hard an organization attempts to project her image, occasions arise when crisis develops and threatens the very foundation of the organization concerned.

Public relations have myriad of definitions. The British Institute of Public Relations (1994) defines it as deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish mutual understanding between an organization and the public. The Mexican definition which was as a result of International conference held in Mexico City in 1978, says, Public relations practice is the art and social science of analyzing trend, predicting their consequences, counseling organization leader, and implementing planned programmer of action which will serve both the organization and the public interest. Harlow(1976) defines it as distinctive management function which helps establish and maintain mutual lines of communication, understanding, acceptance and cooperation between an organization and its public; involves the management of problems or issues; helps management to keep informed and responsive to public opinions, defines and emphasizes the responsibility of management keeps abreast of and effectively utilize change; serving as an early warning system to help anticipate trends and uses research and ethical communication techniques as its principal tools. Indeed, Public Relations have long been discovered as not only a management function but the basis of philosophy of management. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (7th edition) crisis entails a time of great danger, difficulty or confusion when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made. ‘Crisis can be said to be an unsettling situation with disquieting disposition needing a return from the status quo. In view of the situation in Nigeria currently, crisis can be in different forms, example political crisis, financial crisis, fuel crisis, labour crisis, civil disturbance engendered by a perceived wrong doing by a corporate organization, management, shareholder and management related crisis and so on. These are to mention but a few instances because there are so many dimension of crisis. Crisis can occur as a recall of an action of omission or negligence; even a natural disaster can trigger off crisis in an organization. Crisis can either be violent or nonviolent in nature Solu; 1994, p. However, in as much as crisis is an inevitable situation, there is always the need to develop pre- emptive strategic method to prevent its occurrence. But in case crisis occurs and poses great danger, difficulty or uncertainly, the big questions for public relations experts or managers is: what do they do? How best do they utilize their training and knowledge to resolve a situation that is unstable and capable of a highly undesirable outcome?

Statement of the problem

From the above background, it’s obvious that crisis is a negative element that is highly unwelcomed. Crisis accelerate growth and brings instability in the polity, it brings about unhealthy competition, destruction of life and property as well as loss of life. This development is critical as foreign and domestic investors will be skeptical that their huge investment would be safe, fear and insecure as well as lack of trust and confidence will prevail.

There is a saying that goes thus: ”Change is the only constant things in life”. In as much as change is desirable, not all change brings good fortunes, some bring about positive effects while some simply are destructive and devastating. The problem is that with each passing year present government under the watched of president Buhari, we find ourselves enveloped in crises which decelerate growth and brings instability in the polity, unhealthy competition, destruction of life and property as well as loss of life. What factors could be responsible for these?

Based on the background the researcher wants to investigate the Communication, Public Relations and Crisis Management: A Study of Buhari Administration (2015-2021)

Objective of the study

The objective of the study is to ascertain the communication, public relations and crisis management. The study will use Buhari administration as a case study. the specific objectives are;

1. To determine the role public relations, play in crises management in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021
2. To ascertain how effective, the Public relations tools used in resolving the crises in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021.
3. To find out why there have been unsuccessful management of crisis by public relation in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

Research Question

The following research question were made;

1. What is the role public relations, play in crises management in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021?
2. How effective is the Public relations tools used in resolving the crises in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021?
3. Was there unsuccessful crisis management by public relation in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021?

Research hypotheses

The study formulated the following research hypotheses;

H0: there is no role public relations play in crises management in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

H1: there is role public relations play in crises management in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

H0: there is no effectiveness Public relations tools used in resolving the crises in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

H2: there is no effectiveness in Public relations tools used in resolving the crises in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

H0: there was no unsuccessful crisis management by public relation in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

H3: there was unsuccessful crisis management by public relation in Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

Significance of the study

The study will go a long way to benefit many co-operate Organization, the academics and Government Officials in Crisis as few work have been done on the subject. The foundation of modern society lies in its economic and industrial capacity for business and governance to grow and progress. There is the over whelming need to ensure stable social, political and economic environment. This show the vital position public relations has come to occupy in the scheme of things. Public Relations application in administration and Management can help in achieving the desired expectations when properly harnessed. In other words, government, business and industries will find the study important and used as it attempts to mirror the various Crisis, it also proffers solutions. The society will benefit from this research especially in this time of stress on the national economy and the high level of corruption pervading all sectors of our national life.

Scope of the study

The study of the study covers Communication, Public Relations and Crisis Management: A Study of Buhari Administration (2015-2021). The study will be limited to buhari administration from 2015 to 2021

Limitation of the study

However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.
2. Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

Definition of terms.

Public Relations: It is the practice of managing the spread of information between Nigerians and the government.

Crisis: A crisis is either any event or period that will or may lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when they occur abruptly, with little or no warning

 Crisis Management: Crisis management is the application of strategies designed to help an organization deal with a sudden and significant negative event. A crisis can occur as a result of an unpredictable event or an unforeseeable consequence of some event that had been considered as a potential risk

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