PUBLIC POLICY AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY: A WAKE-UP CALL FOR DELTA STATE

Abstract

Delta state is characterized with practices that are not compatible with business sustainability. Multiple taxation, lack of training and re-training of employees and environmental degradation are some of the practices in Delta state that poses great danger to the sustainability of business. Public policy has been identified as an instrument of ensuring sustainable business. Hence, this paper examined public policy and business sustainability, so as to serve as a wake-up for Delta state government, especially policy makers in the state. The study adopted ex-post facto research design, made use of secondary data, obtained from reports, books, journals, newspapers, and publications by both governmental and non-governmental organizations and the Internet, and employed historical method of data analysis, to analyse the data. The study found that multiple taxation, lack of training and re-training of employees and environmental degradation hinders sustainable development. The study also found that public policies such as fiscal, interventionist and regulatory policies can be used to promote business sustainability. The study therefore  recommended that the government of Delta state should put an end the incident of multiple taxation, as it will help to prioritize businesses, and make Delta state a primary destination for investment and job creation. It also recommended proper implementation of public policies regulating training and re-training of employees, and the environmental, as these will help to enhance the conduction of businesses and ensure their sustainability.