The Nigerian Experience: Management of The Civil Service

Cross Ogohi Daniel ,Abel Owotemu

doi:10.7176/ejbm/13-2-06

Abstract

The research paper considered the civil service as the engine room for the administration of human and non-human resources of the country, state, or local government in the business of governance. The Nigeria civil service has a history behind it, and it has evolved over the years playing significant roles in the growth of the country’s policy development and administration, particularly since independence. While, the activities of the civil service may have come short in some instances, the structure has also had tremendous accolades at some other times in the implementation of the various government initiatives at different times. Although, the issue of the socio-political menace of “corruption” is a concept that has hung around the Nigerian civil service like a plaque. A number of the civil service reforms carried out most especially in the early 1970s to early 1980s were predominantly on accountability, efficiency, and productivity of the civil service which could all be traced to the issue of corruption within the civil service structure as at that period. The research paper has therefore conducted a thorough theoretical review of the management of the Nigerian civil service with the objective of proffering some solutions to the various deficiencies of the system as it is today. Key words : Civil service, MDGs, Corruption, Indirect rule, Reforms. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-2-06 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Highlights

The actualization of robust governance in any nation is promptly propelled effectively and efficiently via the availability of adequate services for its citizenry
It is inevitable that the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) to be achieved in the 21st century, the duties of the Civil Service must not be trivialized
Given the central role of the civil service in Nigeria’s quest for national development, attempts to improve governance have appropriately been focused on reform of the bureaucracy for effectiveness and efficiency

Summary

Introduction

The actualization of robust governance in any nation is promptly propelled effectively and efficiently via the availability of adequate services for its citizenry. Studies revealed that the Civil Service productive competence and performance retrenched partly due to lack of substantial commitment on the part of the Civil Service to government engagements and low service morale channelled to poor remuneration (Adedire, 2014) This is detrimental to the public service dispatchment and as such there is urgent need to boost the confidence level and morale of the working force in order to achieve the stipulated Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). Political Interference This is a situation where political office holders do not allow the civil servants the necessary freedom to implement government policies effectively by trying to micro manage their activities often for corruption or political patronage This involves the waiver or breach of due process in contracts awards, recruitment and postings etc hampering the smooth operations and efficiency of the civil service. The Common Assessment Framework (CAF), is an example of the application of total quality management in line with the premise when leadership drives and aligns strategy, planning, processes, people or citizens and customers in addition to resources it would result in outstanding organizational performance

Balanced Scorecard for public sector

Internal business processes perspective

Conclusion