Public administration

The civil service is a body or department in the executive arm of government. It has the duty of assisting the political executive in the planning and implementation of government policies. The Director-General (Permanent Secretary) is the administrative head and the accounting officer of a ministry.

Features of the Civil Service

1. Impartiality: Civil servants are expected to be fair and just to any government in power.
2. Permanence: it is an institution that does not change with the government.
3. Neutrality: Workers in the service are not expected to engage themselves in partisan politics unless they resign their appointments.
4. Anonymity: a civil servant is not expected to speak or reveal any information to the press.
5. Expertise: Experts are produced in the field of administration.
6. Merit: Employment is based on merit.

Problems of Civil Service

1. Low incentive and promotion policy.
2. Lukewarm attitudes towards their job.
3. Bureaucracy slows down decision making and implementation.
4. Political interference by politicians.
5. Frequent military intervention leading to political instability.
6. Bribery and corruption by civil servants.

Control of the Civil Service

1. The commission controls recruitment, promotion and discipline of civil servants.
2. Budgeting and salaries are controlled by the ministry of finance.
3. Parliamentary control has the power to reject or accept appointments of top civil servants by the executive.
4. Executive control has the power to appoint civil servants.
5. Hierarchical structure and control must be obeyed and respected by every civil servant.
6. Legal or judicial control deals with administrative corruption and efficient administration.
7. Ombudsman examines complaints of mal-administration among civil servants.

The Civil Service Commission

It is an independent body with members holding office based on good behavior. The commission is set up by the government and entrusted with the duty of recruiting men into the service by interview in some areas. The body is made up of a chairman and other appointed members.

Functions of the Civil Service Commission

1. It is empowered to recruit high level manpower.
2. The commission has the power to transfer civil servants fro one ministry to another.
3. It promotes civil servants from one salary scale to another.
4. The commission is empowered to discipline civil servants who disobey the rules and regulations.
5. It has the power to retire civil servants who have reach retirement age.
6. The civil service commission has the power to dismiss bad civil servants who are corrupt.

Ombudsman

It is a government institution established to examine complaints of inefficient administration, corruption and unjustified treatment by overzealous public authorities or officials against citizens. Ombudsman is also known as Public Complaints Commission. It was established in Nigeria in October, 1975.

Functions of the Ombudsman

1. Examine problems and complaints of the citizens.
2. To investigate bad cases of bad administration.
3. To investigate allegations of corrupt practices.
4. It is a weapon in restraining bureaucratic excesses.
5. When the rights of the citizens are infringed upon, the ombudsman can redress the issue.
6. They investigate on dubious officers.

Police Force:

1. Power to arrest offenders.
2. Power to prevent commission of an offense
3. Power to investigate

Exercises

1. What is the main duty of the civil service?
2. Highlight five (5) features of the civil service in Nigeria.
3. Enumerate the functions of the civil service commission.
4. What are the problems of ombudsman?
5. List two (2) functions of the police force.