Bureaucratic Features and Job Performance in Nigeria: A Study of Delta State Civil Service

Abstract

The study was premised on Bureaucratic Features and Job Performance in the Civil Service of Delta State. Bureaucracy as a concept was popularized by the German Sociopolitical Philosopher, Max Weber. Ideally speaking, the principles of bureaucracy, fit a very large organization, like the civil service. However, the practice of it in Nigeria is somewhat of a challenge, due to certain unnecessary delays and strict adherence to protocols. Bureaucratic bottlenecks cum red tape, has been a hydra problem in most large organization (the civil service, in particular), touching all aspects of its activities. Bureaucratic bottleneck, refers to the unwarranted stampede in getting things done, in the civil service. It has affected the level of productivity in no small ways. It ranges from, stunting productivity level and/or job performance in various organizations (the Civil service mostly affected). One of the myriad of factors responsible for job performance, is motivation. Motivation, is a major determinant in productivity. If people are happy, fairly treated or so, it goes onto influencing their working attitude. Aside the problem of bottlenecks in the civil service, other factors affect job performance. As earlier established, lack of motivation in the civil service, is a major cause for the epileptic nature of job performance. The structure of the civil service, does not give much room for the welfare (psychological, mental, emotional, etc) of the servants. Another major determinant on job performance in the civil service, is managerial style. Managers are leaders, in an organization. There is a high level of recklessness on the top echelon of the civil service. Rather than, for managers to be up and doing, they end up mismanaging, embezzling, squandering, and looting public funds. There is a very high level of corruption, nepotism, what have you. There is also, the problem of age falsification. Age falsification, which is the deliberate misrepresentation