Politics-Administration Interface and Sustenance of Public Service Ethos in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

This work examined politics-administration interface and the sustenance of public service ethos in Southwest Nigeria. Public servants and political functionaries in Southwest Nigeria are constantly in a struggle to fix each other in their pre-conceived mould of mental judgment which invariably breeds mutual suspicion, apprehension and setting the stage for conflict which is likely to impact negatively on the performance of public servants in Southwest Nigeria. The article identified the factors influencing the interface of public servants and political office holders in Southwest Nigeria. It also determined the influence of the interface between on public service ethos and finally examined the efforts made towards sustaining public service ethos in Southwest Nigeria. In carrying out this work, primary and secondary data were used. In the case of primary data, survey was carried out and questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country. Purposive random sampling techniques were adopted to determine the target respondents. The study has a sample of five hundred and thirty-five (535), which constitute 50 percent of the total population figure of 1070. The findings revealed amongst others, that the synergy between political functionaries and public office holders is often characterized by both conflict and cooperation. In addition, there are certain factors influencing the interface of public servants and political office holders in Southwest Nigeria, these factors include: contract awards, consideration in the appointment of top civil servants etc. The study therefore, recommends the need for Southwest Nigeria to strengthen politics-administration interface in such a way that the public services in that region will be more productive. There is also the need for government in the Southwest to clarify the respective roles of political office holders and public servants. The principles and ethos governing the roles and responsibilities of political office holders and public servants should be clearly spelt out. The study concludes that despite the commendable efforts made by public service in Southwest Nigeria, lack of strict adherence to ethical values has made it difficult for such interface to enhance compliance with standard ethical practic The article therefore recommends, amongst others, the need to strengthen politics-administration relations in Southwest Nigeria. Moreover, government in the Southwest geo-political zone of Nigeria should organize retreats on a regular basis for both political functionaries’ and public officials on the need to uphold the ethics and principles of the service as well as adhere to their respective codes of conduct for public officers.