An Assessment of the Effect of ‘Service Compact with all Nigerians’ (SERVICOM) Reforms on Civil Service Structure and Ethics in Anambra State, Nigeria (Published)
The paper assesses the effect of ‘Service Compact with all Nigerians’ reforms on the structure and ethics of Anambra state civil service. A survey and descriptive methods of data collection were adopted. 214 respondents out of a total of 458 members of staff using Guilford and Flruchter (1973) formula for determining sample size were randomly selected as sample. With the aid of strategic model of Human Resource Management [SHRM] theory, percentage, and chi-square (χ2) tools, the data generated was analysed. The results of the analysis reveal that the implementation of ‘Service Compact with all Nigerians’ reforms do not have any significant effect on the structure of decision making and implementation, and on the re-invigoration of civil service ethics governing in-service training, attendance, timing, discipline, promotion and remunerations. It further reveals that it has significant effect on the personnel configuration and responsibilities of different cadre in the commission. Therefore, this paper recommends among others the creation of an enforcement unit to ensure the full implementation of the components of the reforms. Further research is also recommended to find out factors limiting the implementation of the reforms.
Keywords: Anambra State, Ethics, Reforms, Servicom, civil service structure
Re-Focusing Public Administration for Improved Service Delivery: The Need to Strenghten Ethics (Published)
There are wide ranging accusations that public administration in recent time have failed to live up to the expectations of the growing population of Nigerians. This is in view of the persistent cases of under-performance, deepened corruption, lack of professionalism, inertia and general insensitivity to the increasing public service needs and demands of the people. Public administration in the immediate post-colonial era was perceived more disciplined, accountable and responsive and performed better. These concerns have reduced public trust and confidence on public administrators and their capacity for efficient, productive and accountable public services. This article however, acknowledges this high level of dysfunctionality and the implications on service delivery, more especially where there is the collapse of ethics in the public sector. The article is therefore, an attempt to propose for the re-focusing of public administration through ethical culture where unethical standards result in negative consequences. The public sector ethics are a set of standards that guide behaviours of public administrators. Ethical behaviour is therefore, imperative in ensuring that the administrators understand and carry out the business of governance in the most professional, efficient and accountable manner within the scope of public expectations. The paper further suggests ways of deepening and improving ethical behaviour in the country’s public administration for improved service delivery.
Keywords: Ethics, Public Administration, Service delivery