Public Service and Efficiency Challenge in Nigeria
Public Service and Efficiency Challenge in Nigeria

Summary/Abstract: There is a saying that no country develops beyond the capacity of its public service. Hence, public service provides the total services fort he well-being of citizens under the government budget. When citizens’well -being is provided, their reliance on government is assured. In Nigeria, public service has not been able to provide adequate service for the well-being of citizens. This article examined the causes of public service efficiency challenge in Nigeria and offered remedial actions. The study is theoretical and it obtained data from textbooks, journals, newspapers and the internet while the data analysis was done through the descriptive method. Adopting the functionalism theory as the article theoretical framework, public service was identified as structured into ministries and parastatals to properly serve the public; but, it has failed to perform as expected. Among others, the article found bad leadership, crisis of governance, disrespect to rules, institutionalized corruption, poor professionalism, and intermingling public interests with politics as causes of public service efficiency challenge in Nigeria. The article concluded that without a determined and active government leadership who must have public interest; willing to repel bad governance and institutionalized corruption, any attempt to improve efficiency of public service in Nigeria will only result into building a castle on the air. It recommended that Nigeria should have a determined and active leadership who will promote rule of law and good governance among others.

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