Abstract
This abstract examines the impact of the Twitter ban on government transparency and accountability. Twitter is a popular social media platform that serves as a vital tool for communication, information sharing, and public discourse. However, in certain instances, governments may impose bans or restrictions on social media platforms, raising concerns about the implications for democratic governance, transparency, and accountability. This study focuses on the specific case of the Twitter ban and its effects on government transparency and accountability. It explores the consequences of restricting access to Twitter, both in terms of limiting the flow of information and impeding citizens' ability to hold their governments accountable. By analyzing existing literature, media reports, and case studies, this study assesses how the Twitter ban influences government transparency. It examines the impact on access to real-time information, citizens' ability to engage with government officials and institutions, and the availability of alternative platforms for public discourse. Furthermore, the study explores the implications for government accountability. It investigates how the Twitter ban affects public scrutiny, the ability of citizens to report and expose corruption or malpractice, and the responsiveness of government entities to public concerns and demands. The findings of this study highlight the potential risks associated with the Twitter ban in terms of reduced transparency and accountability. It emphasizes the importance of social media platforms as tools for citizen engagement, the dissemination of information, and the monitoring of government activities. Moreover, the study considers the broader context in which the Twitter ban occurs, including the legal framework, political dynamics, and societal norms. It acknowledges that governments may impose restrictions on social media platforms for various reasons, such as national security concerns or the need to regulate online activities. However, it underscores the importance of balancing such considerations with the principles of transparency and accountability. In conclusion, the Twitter ban can have significant implications for government transparency and accountability. While governments may have legitimate reasons for imposing such restrictions, it is crucial to carefully evaluate the impact on citizens' ability to access information, engage in public discourse, and hold governments accountable. Policymakers and stakeholders need to find a balance between regulating social media platforms and upholding democratic principles, ensuring that transparency and accountability remain central to governance practices in the digital age.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study 2
1.2 Statement of the Problem 3
1.3 Objectives of the Study 4
1.4 Research Hypothesis 5
1.5 Significance of the study 5
1.6 Scope of the Study 5
1.7 Limitations of the study 6
1.8 Arrangement of chapters 6
1.9 Definition of terms 7
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 INTRODUCTION 8
2.1 Ban of Twitter In Nigeria 9
2.2 The Concept of Twitter To People 9
2.3 Theoretical Framework On Twitter Ban In Nigeria (Media uses and gratification theory) 11
2.4 Social Network Theory 12
2.5 Transparency and Accountability Of Twitter In Nigeria 13
2.6 Antecedents That Led To The Twitter Ban In Nigeria 14
2.7 The Lifting of Twitter Ban In Nigeria 18
2.8 Concept of Press Freedom: 20
2.8.1 Social Networking sites in Nigeria. 22
2.9 Impact on Twitter Ban and Employment Circumstance In Nigeria 24
2.10 Implications on Human Rights 26
2.11 General Economic Implication of Twitter Ban in Nigeria 27
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 30
3.2 Research Design 30
3.3 Population of the study. 31
3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedure 31
3.5 Research Instrument 31
3.5.1 Validity 32
3.5.2 Reliability 32
3.6 Procedure for the Administration of the Instrument 33
3.7 Method of Data Presentation 33
3.8 Limitation of the study 34
3.9 Political Implications In Twitter Suspension 35
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction 37
4.2 Respondents Bio-Data 38
4.3 Answering the Research Questions 39
4.3 Summary and Findings 41
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary 43
5.2 Conclusion 45
5.3 Recommendations 45
REFERENCES 46
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Transparency and accountability are critical for the efficient functioning of a modern democracy and for fostering social well-being. In most societies, many powers are delegated to public authorities. Some assurance must then be provided to the delegators, that is, society at large, that this transfer of power is not only effective, but also not abused. Transparency ensures that information is available that can be used to measure the authorities' performance and to guard against any possible misuse of powers. In that sense, transparency serves to achieve accountability, which means that authorities can be held responsible for their actions. Without transparency and accountability, trust will be lacking between a government and those whom it governs. The result would be social instability and an environment that is less than conducive to economic growth.
Transparency can be understood as a composite construct involving multiple components, such as external accessibility and active disclosure. It has been defined in different ways, but most of the definitions see visibility as fundamental.
A good working definition of transparency can be expanded to include completeness, understanding, or inferability of information, but it essentially begins with "the availability of information about an actor that allows the other actors to monitor the workings or performance of the first actor. "Governments can promote transparency by actively disclosing information about their activities and decisions and then enabling citizens to access, monitor, and evaluate it. From the citizen’s point of view, government transparency is perceived when government information is publicly available. However, even if information is available, citizens will not perceive government transparency until they are effectively informed of government activities and decisions (Zavattaro, S. M., & Sementelli, A. J. 2015).
Nigeria's government is one of those that uses social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites to inform citizens about their policies and programs. There has recently been a lot of uncertainty in their citizens' minds regarding the ban on one of the popular social networking sites, Twitter. Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and re-tweet tweets, but unregistered users can only read them. Users access Twitter through its website interface or its mobile-device application software. Thus, in the absence of timely information, such as shared on these social networking sites, citizens may be pushed to lose faith in the transparency of the government and this invariably sends a message that the government is not accountable to the citizens, which is derogatory to true democratic principles.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
On 4th June 2021, the Nigerian government officially put an indefinite ban on Twitter, restricting it from operating in Nigeria, after the social media platform deleted tweets made by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, warning the south-eastern people of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo people, of a potential repeat of the 1967 Biafran Civil War (CNN 2021). The Nigerian government claimed that the deletion of the President's tweets factored into their decision, but it was ultimately based on "a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it has had real-world, violent consequences".
Although Amnesty International, the British and Canadian missions, and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria, as well as domestic organizations such as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have all condemned the ban, its implications are likely to have a significant negative impact on the profitability of Nigerian telecommunications companies.
According to the Social-Media-Poll-Report (2020), more than 120 million Nigerians have access to the internet and social networking sites and nearly 40 million of them have a Twitter account — 20% of the population. Thus, the banning of Twitter in Nigeria invariably means that one of the many social media platforms through which citizens are informed about government policies and programs has been obstructed, sending a lot of messages to the masses about the Buhari-led administration's level of transparency and accountability. Therefore, it is upon this premise that this study is set to examine the impact of the Twitter ban on government transparency and accountability.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main focus of this study is to examine the Twitter ban's effect on government transparency. The study specifically seeks to:
- Investigate the importance of social media for government transparency.
- To examine the extent of government transparency through the Twitter platform before the ban.
- To determine whether the current Twitter ban will have an impact on citizens' perceptions of the government's transparency and accountability.
1.4 Research Hypothesis
The research is guided by the following hypothesis.
HO1: Nigeria's Twitter ban does not have a negative impact on citizens' perceptions of government transparency.
HO2: There is no significant relationship between the Twitter ban and government accountability.
1.5 Significance of the study
This study depicts a critical analysis of the effect of the Twitter ban on government transparency and accountability, it is critical to note that the findings and theoretical aspects of this work will be relevant to citizens, political stakeholders, and the government. To the stakeholders and the government, the study will enlighten them on the need to reassess the current ban on Twitter, knowing how this will affect the perception of its citizens on the level of their transparency and accountability, as the effect of this may jeopardize the true tenet of democracy. More so, the study will also be significantly useful to students and researchers and other individuals who may have the interest to gather or carryout any study related to the topic under study.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study extends to a critical examination of the impact of Twitter's ban on government transparency and accountability
1.7 Limitations of the study
During the course of this research, the following factors are proposed to be a limitation.
Financial constraint– Inadequate funding tends to impede the researcher's efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection process (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research is reduced.
1.8 Arrangement of chapters
Basically, this study is divided into five chapters for proper investigation and analysis of the subject matter. Chapter one deals with general introduction of the subject and related aspects that traditionally associated with research introduction are discussed.
Chapter two handles the review of related literature, vis-à-vis the subject matter. In chapter three, the study takes an in depth look at method of data collection, methodology of getting the data on the said topic “Twitter Ban in Nigeria Government transparency and its accountability,” Chapter four deals with presentation and analysis of data as well as the discussion of findings.
Lastly, chapter five summarises the study, puts forward recommendations and draws conclusions.
1.9 Definition of terms
Twitter: Twitter is an American micro-blogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and retweet tweets, but unregistered users can only read them.
Twitter Ban: This is the authoritative pause in the operation of Twitter as mandated by the Federal government of Nigeria on June 5th 2021 until the owners of the social network meet the newly established requirements given to them by the government of Nigeria.
Transparency: Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in other social contexts, operates in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed.
Accountability: Accountability, in terms of ethics and governance, is equated with answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of account-giving.
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