1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
According to Okpo (2005) the civil service is the machinery of government. It is classified into ministries and extra ministerial department, which are in charge of groups of related matters. The civil service occupies a strategic and crucial position in governance of any given nation. It also constitutes powerful instrument of change in the society.
This means that the civil service is an indispensable machinery of government and condition for national development. It is in recognition of this crucial and strategic role that the Nigeria government since interdependence in 1960 has relied on the civil service for advice policy on formulation an execution.
The civil service is an institution of government that execute s the policies and decisions of government for the benefit of the people. It is regarded as life blood of the nation.
The 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria defined civil service as the body of men and women employed in the service of the federation or state in a civil capacity as staff of the office of the president, vice —president (or deputy governor a ministry or department of the government of the federation (or state) assigned with the responsibility for the business of the government implicit in this system in the public service.
The growth, structure and role of the civil service were moving with the stages of development of the Nigerian federal and state structure as well as the changes in Nigerian governance. The Nigeria civil service might be said to have evolved or takes its root in 1914 when Fredrick Laggard amalgamated Northern and Southern protectorate into an entity called Nigeria.
Threw was then civil administration dominated by the Britons whose duty was to execute the policies and programme of the government. Its roles was to maintain law and order to provide a harmonize government conclusive enough for colonial mission of exploitation of the colonized people.
But at the time of independence, the role of civil service in Nigeria and any other independent third world nation charged for the purpose of development. At this period the much needed change was to forth coming and there was need for a much designed reform of the civil service in Nigeria which led to the civil service reform of 1976, 1988 and 1997.
The reform of 1988 has opened up series of issues very vital to National Development and has formed as well the bases for other reforms by various requires in Nigeria after the Babangida's tenure. As there are recorded benefits of the 1988 reform there are very challenges to the reform such as lack of fund mass retirement of skilled experienced personnel, corruption, nepotism, ethnicity etc.
Obasi (1988) views administrative reforms as a purposeful or goal -oriented change made in order to improve the skill, the standard of performance and level of productivity of members of an organization. The civil service reforms of 1988 were no doubt instituted with the over all objectives of institutional capabilities of the nations civil service to enable it perform its crucial role to self sustaining growth and development of the country.
The organizational structure of each ministry and or extra- ministerial department was restructured vertically and horizontally to ensure over all managerial efficiency and effectiveness.
Optimum span of control and clear one of authority and responsibility each ministry was professionalized, meaning that every officer whether a generalist or specialist would make his carrier entirely in the ministry or department of his choice. This was o enable civil servants acquire the necessary expertise and experience through specialized training and unintempted involvement in the work of the department. They also introduced a presidential system of government.
Afikpo North local government Area takes into cognizance of the 1988 reform, and the reform led to enhancement of efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. Civil service reform is a state policy for increase in level of productivity.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Afikpo North Local Government just like evry other local government was created to bring development within the territorial boundaries.
The 1988 reform which was promulgated to restructure and change the local government in order to ensure and enhancement of effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.
Therefore, the problems associated with Afikpo North local Government Includes,
- What were the problems that caused 1988 civil service reforms?
- Is wrong deployment of officers to duties not relevant to their academic / professional background, training and cognate experience a problem that led to 1988 civil service reforms?
- What has insecurity in the service caused that led to 1988 reform?
- Did corruption, Nepotism, ethnicity, embezzlement and misappropriation of public fund led to 1988 civil service reform?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
- The objective of this research work is to improve the capacity of the nation's civil service.
- To enable the Nigerian civil service perform its crucial role to self sustaining growth and development of the country.
- To improve the skill and standard of performance of the Nigeria civil service.
- To increase the level of productivity in the country.
- To enhance effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.
1.4 Research Question
The research question of this research work are follows:
- Is civil service reform necessary on National Development?
- To what extent can reform help in the enhancement of effectiveness, efficiency and accountability?
- Did reforms change the image of civil service towards national development?
- Did 1988 civil service reform instill the spirit of team work in the civil service?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is expected to assist Nigeria civil service to increase efficiency in the implementation of government policies and programme to the fullest extent practicable through the encouragement of specialization of personnel. It will enhance effectiveness, efficiency and accountability for the growth of the nation.
It will help to increase the level of productivity in the country and also it will help the Nigerian civil service perform its crucial role to self sustaining growth and development of the country.
In a nutshell, the study will be of tremendous benefit to Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The researcher takes look on the impacts of civil service reforms on national development particularly on Afikpo North local Government Area of Ebonyi State. This is to enable him cover the area of this research study and obtain adequate information.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
The limitation of this research is seen on the short time allocated to this project, Because of time constraint, the researcher would not be able to go to the appropriate commissions to bring that's for this study.
Finance was also a limitation to this study, because it was also needed to go to the different officers to get information.
Bureaucratic constraint was another factor that militate the limitations of this research. This occurs when materials were seeked from different officers.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The researcher made it necessary to explain some words in the course of this research some of the teams include;
Civil Service:
An organization of government that executes the policies and decisions of government for the benefit of the public.
Commission:
The authority to perform a task or certain duties.
Development:
An event constituting a new stage in a changing situation.
Motivation:
Causing one to act a particular way.
Reform:
A deliberate, goal oriented and comprehensive change exercise designed to improve the institution and attitudinal aspect of the public bureaucracy.
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