ABSTRACT
This study is on The Impact of Public Corporations on National Development, using the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited
(K.R.P.C) as a case study. The evaluation was undertaken by using some selected objectives of the company which include, the diversification of the
national resources by increasing the value added to our crude oil and natural gas resources, the production of the basic raw materials from the
crude oil and gas by creating and sustaining small and intermediate manufacturing industries thereby structurally transforming the national
economy and savings in foreign exchange outlays through import substitution values of locally manufactured petro-chemical end use goods,
and foreign exchange earnings through exportation of goods.
Also used were the corporate social responsibility roles of K.R.P.C. which among others include, the raising of the living standards of its host
communities and to identify with their yearnings and aspirations. Of specific interest in the study was the problem militating against K.R.P.C in
the attainment of its developmental roles and objectives. All these were used as the bases for the hypotheses tested.
The study is based on a field research carried out in K.R.P.C. and the immediate communities where the company is located that is, Rido, 'Angwar' Romi, and Sabon Tasha Communities. Questionnaire and structured interview constituted the primary instruments for data collection.
Official Publications of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical
Company (KRPC) constituted the secondary data. Simple tables and percentages were used for data presentation and analysis.
Results of the study showed that, overall, the K.R.P.C has contributed to national development through the provision of employment
opportunities, revenue generation and the production of petroleum and petrochemical products, although not in a spectacular manner. Despite this, the social and material well being of the inhabitants of the surrounding communities have not increased in consonance therewith.
The study also found that the major causes inhibiting the successful performance of the company can be traced to lack of raw materials and spare parts and the undue interference in its affairs by the government. In order to accelerate the performance of the company, there is the need for the government to grant it partial autonomy in the management of its affairs in terms of recruitment, budgeting and personnel policies.
The supervisory ministry should make more fund available to the corporation, for its smooth and efficient operations.
Similarly the government should as a matter of urgency encourage the establishment of industries for local fabrication of basic spare parts
to minimize the problem of lack of spare parts. Finally, import substitution strategy towards self reliance embarked upon by the government should not only be limited to other sectors of the economy like Agriculture, but should also include petroleum and petrochemical industries.
