ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC SERVICE EFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU STATE (1999-2003)
ABSTRACT
This research work examined administrative reforms and public service efficiency in Nigeria using Enugu state (1999-2003) as a case study. The study held that administrative reforms had moral contents in that, they are seeking to create better and responsive civil service by removing faults and imperfections in Enugu State civil service and generally in Nigerian civil service. The information used in this study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary method or sources of data collection included the use of a research instrument, (the questionnaire) and interview. Some research questions were asked as guide to the respondents in order to elicit first hand information on the subject matter. The questionnaire contained twenty two structured questions designed in both open and close ended style. In addition, the questionnaire was validated and administered accordingly. Secondary sources of data collection on the other hand, included textbooks, journal, government documents and internet materials. The study formulated two hypotheses to guide the data analysis using simple percentage, tables, pie chart and chi-square statistical method for data analysis. The data analysis revealed that; administrative reforms aim at creating a responsive and efficient civil service in Enugu State. The findings revealed that administrative reform programmes on Anti-corruption, Public Procurement, Due Process, Service Delivery Initiative, Performance Improvement Bureau, Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence, Human Resource Management programmes yielding good results towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Enugu State civil service. The results further revealed that high incidence of bureaucratic corruption and poor service delivery are among the key challenges militating against administrative reforms programmes in the Enugu State civil service. It is based on these findings that the study recommended that more efforts should be directed towards eradicating corruption in the Enugu State Civil Service and generally in the Nigerian Civil Service in order to reposition the service to be goal oriented. Also there is need to provide the civil servants with modern facilities in order to strengthen service delivery among others. Staff motivation should be enhanced as a way of stimulating high work performance in the civil service.