DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN LAGOS AND ONDO STATES (2005-2015)
ABSTRACT
Discipline is inevitable in any organisation as a way of ensuring attainment of efficiency in service delivery. The Civil Service Rules prescribe procedures for disciplining erring Civil Servants. However, over the years there had been cases of breach in the disciplinary process of erring Civil Servants resulting in several law suits against the government and its agencies. It had been observed that the method of disciplining staff may have some effect later on their level of productivity, as well as on their colleagues. The study therefore, investigated Disciplinary Procedure (DP) and Job Performance (JP) among Civil Servants in Lagos and Ondo States between 2005 and 2015.
Survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised of civil servants in the Ministry of Establishment and Training, Public Service Office and the Civil Service Commission. Stratified random sampling technique was used in the selection of respondents from the two states according to their cadres and grade levels. A validated questionnaire was employed to measure Statutory Disciplinary Procedure (SDP) measured on 4-point scale (α=0.75); Investigation of Disciplinary Cases (IDC) measured on 6 point scale (α=0.84); Special Training for Personnel Handling Disciplinary Cases (STPHDC) on 5- point scale (α=0.89); Discrimination and Bias Judgement of Cases (DBJC) on 6-point scale (α=0.87); Awareness of Disciplinary Procedural Cases (ADPC) on 5-point scale (α=0.89); Job Performance of Civil Servant within the service (JP) on 4-point scale (α=0.83) in both states. A total of 487 copies of the questionnaire were administered with a response rate of 85.6%. In addition, in-depth interview was conducted with 6 Directors, two each from the selected ministries. Data collected with the questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics. The hypotheses were tested, using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at 5% level of significance. The qualitative data from the interview were transcribed and content-analysed.
Findings revealed that there were SDP in the civil service in both states but were not adhere to. Also IDC was significantly associated with JP (r=0.489, p<0.05). there was a positive relationship between STPHDC & JP of civil servant in the states under investigation (r = 0.529, P< 0.05 ).The study also find that there was a negative relationship between DBJC & JP of civil servant in Lagos and Ondo state (r = 0.318, p< 0.05).
The study concluded that proper investigation of disciplinary cases increased job performance of Civil Servants in both states as officers were confident of being fairly heard. Also, cases of discrimination and biased judgements were prominent in these states thus having a negative effect on job performance of Civil Servants. Consequently, the study recommended that the Civil Service Commissions should ensure adherence to stipulated disciplinary procedures in disciplining erring Civil Servants in the two states. Those who abuse the disciplinary process should face stiffer sanctions.
Keywords: Disciplinary Procedure, Job Performance, Civil Servant, Investigation, Lagos and Ondo