Recruitment and Selection Processes in Public Service Organizations: Rivers State Experience

Abstract

This study examines recruitment and selection processes in public service organizations: Rivers State Experience. The problems caused by poor recruitment and selection processes have occupied the front burner of public discourse in recent time. This is due to the fact that governance have been privatized, personalized, recruitment and selection processes in public service organizations is currently mired by irregularities and unfair approaches. Mixed method was utilized with survey research design in this study. The population of the study is 1,979 for both organizations that were selected for the study, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) which is state public sector and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) which is Federal public sector. However, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has 654 population and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) 1,325. Taro Yamane’s formula was used to determine the sample size from the population which gave us 399 (three hundred and ninety nine) respondents for both organizations. Questionnaires were correctly filled and returned for analysis using SPSS 12 version. Descriptive statistics were used to interpret data on the socio-demography characteristics of respondents, while tables, percentage were used to present the result for clarity and better understanding. Multi-stage sampling techniques (including systematic sampling and simple random sampling) were used in this study. Findings of this study revealed among others that: the public sector organizations are bedevilled by political and ethnic appointments. Also, those suitable and qualified candidates are denied positions in line with political or ethnic affiliation, thus affecting efficiency and productivity of the organizations. Based on the findings the study recommended among others that: job trafficking that is gradually becoming a norm in the recruitment and selection processes into the Nigerian public service should receive a serious and urgent sanction. There should be a body and a law empowering such body to investigate and prosecute every recruitment malpractice. Such body should be involved in every recruitment to enable them get information about the processes.