1.1 Introduction
Civil service is a feature of all nations practiced at federal, state and local levels. Indeed, whether the chief executive of a government is president, prime minister, an emperor, king, duke governor or mayor, that government functions within the ambit of civil service. Nigerian civil service is the greatest asset of the country in its quest for sustainable development. Civil service as an organization lies at the centre of Public Administration structure (Olu-Adeyemi, 2009). The Nigerian Civil Service has undergone various changes since the amalgamation of the socio-political development in Nigeria has over the years had some major and tremendous effects on the Civil Service (Omotoso, 2001). One of the major problems facing Nigeria civil service is how to manage the personnel by successful government in Nigeria (Adebayo, 2001).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The civil service in Nigeria, like most civil services in the world, was built strictly on the bureaucratic principle of the discipline and control in the conduct of the office and productivity in civil service. The entire evolution of civil service has being dated to the ancient civilization time. Civil service is a specialized body of government that executes the policies and decisions; it also offers advice to the government on policy matters. The inefficiency on the part of the civil service of any country, however, affects the effectiveness of the government of that country in providing the needs for its citizenry.
The entire evolution of civil service has being dated to the ancient civilization time. Civil service is a specialized body of government that executes the policies, decisions and programmes, it also offers advice to the government on policy matters. The inefficiency on the part of the civil service of any country, however, affects the effectiveness of the government of that country in providing the needs for its citizenry.
Although public service has a wider scope of service than civil service; all civil servants are public servant but not all public servants are civil servants. Civil service is the component of the large public service which is centrally placed to provide guidance, advice, general supervision and coordination of government operation both at the state and federal levels. The roles of civil service are largely conditional and determined by the character of the state.
In Nigeria, its changing roles in the societies as an instrument of the state and part and parcel of the executive arm of government, the civil service is structured and organized towards the realization of the aims and objectives of the state in the society. During the British rule in Nigeria, the roles of the civil service were geared towards the realization of her majesty imperial objectives in the country. In the early period of this era, the service was essentially a peace keeping institution in the country.
The primary role of the civil service in Nigeria and similar societies, whether in terms of advising the political leaders or the government of the day in policy formulation or in the execution of the policies and programmes made by them, is to serve as a veritable instrument and faithful hand work of both the domestic and international capital for the realization of the goals and objectives of the state. Civil service includes dealing with international finance institution, international leading bodies and non-governmental organization.
The adoption of the national development plan by Nigeria has put enormous responsibility on the shoulders of the civil servants they are executed to make sectoral analysis of the economy, identify potential and promising social and economic projects, engage in process of development planning in micro studies of programmes and project and evaluation of the political, social economic and technical implication of the activities of the civil service in Nigeria were all geared towards private accumulation and expansion of capital irrespective of the type of government in the country.
In Nigeria, as in other developing countries, governments are carrying the bulk of the burden of economic development. The state, being the biggest employer of labour as a result of lack of a well-developed private sector, has thus become one huge instrument for stemming unemployment and other socio-economic miseries. Developing countries depend on big governments for their development because of their peculiar circumstances (Ola, 1990) in Lawal et al (2011).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of Nigerian Civil Service in National Development.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that going down many lanes, civil service had contributed enormously to the development of Anambra State. The role of the civil service in Anambra State has become the giant strides seriously needed to take the state to amiable level. Civil service is Panacea for all these short coming in the state, especially in the area of policy, decision, initiative and implementation, administrative, contimity, policy decision formulation, execution of policy, its analysis and evaluation.
Civil service is very crucial to Anambra State especially now that the state is driving forth to become one among the league of developed economy come year 2020, and inspite of the fact these lapses of problems in the role of civil service, the state still crave for development locally and internally.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Nigerian Civil Service in National Development using Anambra State Civil Service as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out if there is acrimony between the political Leaders and career officers of the civil service;
- To determine if there is poor attitude to work and institutional conservation within the civil service;
- To ascertain if the recruitment of civil servants in Anambra State are based on merit; and
- To examine the level of effectiveness in the civil service as it affects development in Anambra State.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does the recruitment of the civil servants in Anambra State based on merit?
- Is there poor attitude to work and institutional conservation within the civil service?
- Is there acrimony between the political leaders and career officers of the civil service?
- What is the level of effectiveness in the civil service as it affects development in Anambra State?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant level of effectiveness in the civil service that affects development in Anambra State
- H0: There is significant level of effectiveness in the civil service that affects development in Anambra State
1.7 Significance of Study
The civil service as a component of the large public service has it relevance both for practical and academic purpose due to the impact they have played and about to play in future. The result of this study cannot be underestimated because the outcome will be beneficial to the government, particularly in the areas of policy making and policy induction. The civil servants will also benefit from it as it will enable them understand the extent the job have been performed.
This study will also contribute significantly to the already existing body of knowledge. The public administration students will find work very useful.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Role of Nigerian Civil Service in National Development using Anambra State Civil Service as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
The limitation of this study lines the role of the civil service as its effects in the development of the state using Anambra State service commission as a case study. It covers such area like for leadership quality and lack of quantitative man power, poor remuneration of salary of civil servants, poor attitude to work, lack of expertise or technocrat in the civil service.
The civil service has contributed enormously in the development of Anambra State, and therefore should not be left to suffer some certain problem; hence it is the life wire of government. Specifically, during the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Civil Service:
The public service is an indispensable service through which the government implements its policies and programs.
Civil Service Commission:
The Civil Service Commission is an executive body created by the Constitution to guarantee its autonomy and political neutrality.
Civilization:
Is a human society with its own social organization and culture, societies it is the state of having and advanced level of social organization and a comfortable way of life.
Acrimony:
It entails bitterness and anger about something
Conservatism:
The tendency to resist great or sudden change in politics
Constraints:
A manner that is not natural or relevant. A thing that limits or restricts.
Enormous:
Extremely large in size, amount or degree
Overhaul:
To examine carefully and thoroughly and make any necessary changes or repairs
Remuneration:
It is the payment that is made up to someone for work they have done.
Nepotism:
If some use their power or authority to get jobs or other benefits for members of the family, you prefer to this action as nepotism or the practice among people or influence or favouring their own relatives by given them jobs, achieve promotion through nepotism.
