The Effectiveness of the Federal Character Principle in Enugu, Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Public Service

Abstract

Purpose: The study seeks to understand the extent to which the Federal Character Principle ensured even representation of Federal Public Servants in Enugu State, Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory. Also, to know if the federal character principle is faced with some challenges in Enugu State, Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory and understand the advantages and prospects of the federal character principle to the Federal Public Service in Enugu State, Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory. Theoretical Framework: This study is situated within the Theory of Representative Bureaucracy propounded by Bola Dauda (2000). This theory was propounded to solve crisis in the Public Service Recruitment in order to ensure administrative and political harmony especially for the third world countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: The design of the study is descriptive and survey research design. Primary method of data collection was employed. One hundred and fifty - five (164) questionnaires were administered to one hundred and fifty – five (155) respondents and questionnaires were responded to, and recovered. For the purpose of this study, Federal Character Commission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi and Enugu states were sampled. Findings: The findings of this study shows that the extent to which the federal character principle has ensured even representation of every region of Nigeria in the federal civil service is low. It was revealed by the findings of this study that the problems of regional domination and fear of minorities of marginalization in the federal public service have not been largely tackled by the federal character principle in Nigeria. Also, the Federal Character Principle is characterized by some obvious problems which include sacrificing competence and merit on the altar of fair regional representation; the federal character principle being an opportunity for those in power to favour people from their regions and the emphasis the Federal Character Principle places on difference rather than integration. Conclusion: The federal character principle is one those principles which Nigeria has adopted in her attempt to balance the national life of her diverse heritage. There seem to be nothing wrong with the federal character principle and its adoption into the Nigerian state but so much seem to be wrong in the application of this principle in Nigeria due to administrative lapses on the part of the Federal Character Commission and selfish interests on the part of those in power.