1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background Of The Study
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives of friends regardless of merit. Nepotism means hiring one’s own family members or it can mean hiring unqualified or under-qualified family members based simply on the family relationship. The word nepotism stems from the lation word nepos, nepotics which means nephew.
Oxford advanced learners dictionary (7th edition) defined nepotism as giving unfair advantage to your own family if you are in a position of power especially by giving them jobs.
Nepotism describes favouritism shown to members of ones family, bestowal of patronage in consideration of relationship rather then of merit or legal claim.
On the other hand, recruitment according to itellrigal and Slocum (1996:43) is the process of searching both inside and outside the organization for people to fill vacant positions.
Obikeze and Obi (2004:41) sees recruitment as a process of attracting candidates to apply for vacant positions in organizations.
The civil service is a professional body of officials, permanent, paid and skilled. It is a system that offer equal opportunities to all citizens to enter the government service, equal political and bureaucratic.
The roots of the Nigerian civil service can be traced to the colonial civil service established by the British to govern Nigeria as a canonical territory in 1860. however, it was not until 1914 (amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorate) that there was a verified governmental structure in Nigeria and that years marked the beginning of a Nigerian civil service.
The efficiency and effectiveness of any work place (whether the private of the public sector) largely depend on the caliber of the workforce. The availability of a competent and effective labour force does not just happen by chance but through an articulated recruitment exercise.
Recruitment is a set of activities used to obtain a sufficient number of the right people of the right time from the right places. Its purpose is to select those who best meet the needs of the work force and develop and maintain a qualified and adequate workforce through which an organization can fulfill its human resource goal.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
This research was conducted based on the fact that the recruitment process of the Nigerian civil service lacks equity and transparency, making it difficult if not impossible to recruit the best qualified applicants for favourable jobs in the service. The persuade problem of recruitment in the Nigerian civil service could largely be attributed to factors descriptive as nepotism.
The recruitment process in the Nigerian civil service requires monitoring nepotism and its impact on the recruitment exercise in order to attract broad range of potential applicants and screen out unsuitable applicants.
The researcher observed the following problems caused by nepotism in the recruitment process which promoted him to embark on this research. These problems include:
- Lack of skilled employees
- Wastage of resources
- Higher supervisory
- Dissatisfaction of employee
The study is to investigate nepotism as used by the personal management against the method and process of recruitment of personnel adopted by the Nigerian civil service.
1.3 Objectives Of The Study
This research work has the following objectives
- To have a resound knowledge on how nepotism is being adopted by the personnel management in the recruitment process of the Nigerian civil service.
- To explore the negative effects of nepotism on the Nigerian civil service system.
- To determine the extent to which nepotism has affected the recruitment process of the Nigerian civil service.
- To suggest how nepotism can be eradicated in the recruitment process of Nigerian civil service system.
1.4 Research Questions
- What effect does nepotism have on the recruitment process of an organization?
- Can nepotism cause wastage of resources?
- Can recruitment by nepotism result to ineffectiveness and inefficiency in an organization?
- Is nepotism an effective concept in personnel management?
- Can nepotism be eradicated?
1.5 Statement Of Hypothesis
The following will be tested on the research work to ascertain its validity.
- Hi: Nepotism serves as a major cause of low output in the civil service
Ho: Nepotism does not serve as a major cause of low output in the civil service. - Hi: Imo State civil servant are recruited on merit
Ho: Imo state civil servant are not recruited on merit.
1.6 Significance Of The Study
This study will educate the stake holders on the need to appreciate the effect of recruitment in the performance of public administration and therefore the need to eliminate nepotism in the recruitment process of the civil service of Nigeria.
This study will expose the recruitment method adopted in the Nigerian civil service.
This study also shall acknowledge the problem facing recruitment process in the Nigerian civil service and solution proffered shall equip the civil service commission in their future recruitment. The study shall equally help the commission to see the need for experts. The work will also provide the government with scientific and useful information which will guide it in the formation of recruitment policies.
This study will serve as a reference material for both government and private researchers IT student who share the same research interest with this work. The findings of the work will add to the easing body of knowledge in the subject matter and will produce a report which may stimulate research on recruitment
1.7 Scope Of The Study
The scope for the study encompasses the effects of nepotism in the recruitment process of the whole Nigerian civil service (both federal and state civil service) but because of the nation’s vastness, the researcher will limit its scope to Imo State civil service.
1.8 Limitation Of The Study
In the course of carrying out this research work, the researcher encountered the following problems.
Non Accessibility Of Information:
This is as a result of the unwillingness of some respondent to give out information.
Limited Time Factor:
The researcher having being pre occupied with the other academic pursuit has limited time to carry out the full research work.
Financial Constraint:
The factors posed a heavy problem in course of carrying out this research as there was insufficient finance for gathering and collection of data.
1.9 Definition Of Terms
Nepotism:
This is giving unfair advantage to your own family if you are in position of power especially by giving them jobs (Nwosu 1998:67)
Recruitment:
Defines the process of attracting a sufficient number of individuals with the right profile in terms of qualifications, experiences, skills and other relevant attributed to indicate their interest in working for the organization (Ezeachi and Eziagn 2009:41)
Personnel:
This term is used to cover all persons collectively employed in a work or an organization.
Civil Service:
This is a body or organization of men and women employed to ensure that the policies and programmes of any government of the federation are carried out.
Civil Servant:
A civil servant is a person employed by the civil service commission and paid by government of the money voted for that purpose by the national assembly or state house of assembly.
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