15 research outputs found
Corruption and the Challenges of Good Governance in the Nigerian Public Sector
No full textThe role of the public service in achieving good governance cannot be underestimated. This can be gleaned from the central role it plays in the formulation and implementation of policies designed for the development of the society. In Nigeria, the role of public service has come under severe criticisms within the context of the gap that exists between its anticipated role and its actual output in guiding the society along the course leading to the desired goal as a result of corruption. This article observes that the fact that Nigeria is still grappling with the problems of bad governance goes to show the level of non-accountability and ever present manifestation of crude corruption that is open, naked, undisguised and yet legally untameable because of the system. The article also reveals that many of the anti-corruption efforts are part of the liberal reforms that are based on the assumption that corruption is an individual act or personal misuse of public office for private gain. It points out that as laudable as the intentions of government in putting in place institutions and laws meant to curb corruption, the enforcement of these laws has left much to be desired. In fact, the various reform efforts of the Nigerian government are of limited value because they fail to take into account much of the dynamics that support corruption in the country. Thus, people now regard the law as paper tigers, meant only to the enforced when breached by low-level public officers. While successive administrations have taken partially successful steps to control corruption, these efforts have not fundamentally undermined the supporting environmentfor corruption in the country. The article therefore recommends the need for greater transparency in the management of public funds by the public office holders as well as the need for political will and commitment from governments at Federal, State and Local, including bureaucracies at various levels of governance in the country. The article concludes that there is a need to transform social values as well as state institutions that work as enabling environments for corruption. The also has enormous responsibility in controlling corruption and restoring the hope to the citizenry goodgovernance. Unless good governance is in place with accountability carefully observed, sustainable development cannot be realized
Amnesty as a Panacea for the Resolution of Resource Control Conflicts in Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region
No full textThe objective of this paper is to determine the extentto which the implementation of the amnesty programme in theNigeria’s Niger Delta region has reduced the incidence ofmilitancy insurrection and conflicts in the area. The paperadopted qualitative approach and relies on secondary data,using the combination of analytical and descriptive method toassess the effects of amnesty programme in the resolution ofresource control conflicts in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Thepaper observes that in spite of the implementation of theAmnesty programme by various civilian administrations since2008, recent reports demonstrate that militancy and theattendant consequences are still being experienced in the region.The paper submits that unless the factors causing violentconflicts in the region such as marginalisation, environmentaldegradation, inequitable distribution of oil revenues andunderdevelopment are addressed; the present peace in theregion may not subsist for long. It recommends measures forsuccessful implementation of amnesty in order to achieverelative peace in the region in particular and Nigeria as a whole
Performance Management Systems Productivity in the Public Sector: Wither African Public Administration
No full textPerformance management has attracted a lot of debate in the recent past. It is a systematic effort to improve performance through an ongoing process of establishing desired outcomes, setting performance standards to improve performance and productivity and aim at improving the quality of public service delivery. In view of this, the article discusses the extent to which performance management practices influence performance and productivity in public sector institutions in Africa. It notes that though performance management has been introduced in the African public service with the intentions of monitoring, reviewing, assessing performance and recognizing good performance, performance management systems in Africa have not been able to achieve the expected level of performance which will improve productivity. As a result, the article gives brief overview of public sector performance in some African public services and recommends among others that African public services need to lay more emphasis on productivity through
effective implementation of performance management systems. It concludes that public sector organisations in Africa can learn a lot from Western companies which have been wrestling with this issue for over two decades now
Public sector reform in Africa: Issues, lessons and future directions
No full textABSTRCT Public service has always been the tool available to African governments for the implementation of developmental goals and objectives. It is seen as being crucial to the growth and development of African economies. The paper reviews the nature of the current public sector reform in Africa, lessons of international and African perspectives, and the future directions of the public sector reform in Africa. It argues that the reform is in the interest of the conservative international financial institutions that were merely interested in globalizing the neo-liberal economy orthodoxy for the interest of powerful global capital and not in promoting autonomous development, which is what Africa need for economic progress. It, therefore, concludes that effective public sector reform in Africa must put into consideration the behavioral pattern, the social context, as well as cultural milieu of the people whom the reform is meant for together with the vehicle of the reform
TELE-HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE SERVICE DELIVERY IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe Lagos State public health facilities, in recent times have experienced considerable transformation with the adoption of technology-driven tool called tele-health. This study examines the effect of tele-health on healthcare service delivery in public health facilities in Lagos State. It adopted a survey research design cum quantitative approach with a sample size of 183 participants. Double sampling techniques consisted of purposive, and convenience were adopted for the study. Data for the study were gathered from primary sources. The study adopted both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques for data analysis. Descriptive statistics such as simple frequency distribution and percentages were adopted in data presentation and analysis, while relevant hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics such as Friedman rank test and Simple regression analysis. Findings of the study revealed that the rank-order analysis of tele-health adoption was evident from improved medical consultation, work stress reduction, providing simplicity and convenience at work for the public healthcare workers, while healthcare service delivery was also evident through prioritizing high-risk patient, early detection of patient’s medical history, patient engagement and reduced mortality rate. The study further revealed that for both tele-health and healthcare service delivery metrics, a positive but low relationship was established between tele-health and healthcare service delivery among public healthcare workers in Lagos State. The study concludes that tele-health has a significant relationship with healthcare service delivery in public healthcare facilities
Techno-Bureaucratic Governance and Public Service Delivery: Indonesia and Nigeria in Perspectives
No full textTechno-bureaucratic governance is fundamental to contemporary public service. This is because the roles of the bureaucrats and technocrats become more relevant in policy formulation and implementation when the government had to (re)invent its institutions to move from routine administration to that of development planning and management. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the paper notes that techno-bureaucratic ideology values technical expertise itself and its technical experts, efficiency, economic development and effective public service delivery. Adopting comparative perspective, the paper examines techno-bureaucratic governance and public service delivery in Indonesia and Nigeria. The paper takes a cursory look at the similarities and differences between the two countries. The paper notes that the technocracy nurtured by the New Order in Indonesia was cohesive and effective because of its technical expertise and has helped Indonesia to turn oil income into productive investments,whereas in Nigeria the oil income was used for prestigious projects to the detriment of productive investments. The paper therefore recommend among others that developing societies need a new strategy in delivery services in their public service, and this can be achieved through skilled
professionals, technocrats and knowledge based actors. It concludes that for public service to deliver effective services, an efficient bureaucracy and technocracy remain invaluable
THE PLACE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS: SOUTH AFRICA AND NIGERIA IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
No full textNew Global Financial Order and Promotion of Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank (AIIB): Opportunities and Challenges for Africa
No full textThe main objective of this paper is to examine the effect of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on infrastructural development in developing countries with specific reference to Africa. The paper argues that availability of infrastructure has become one of the major problems in the process of economic development generally in the Global South. Given the need for hugecapital infrastructure in the region and thepresence of the financing gap in infrastructure financing, China initiated the establishment of the AIIB, therefore, heralding a new chapter in the international finance system. The study uses the “New Model Development Finance” lens to discuss Global Governance of Finance with a historical overview of GlobalFinancial Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank that have been in existence for close to seven decades. It identifies the majorchallenges which emerging economies have with existing international financial institutions as well as some opportunities and challenges for African countries. It observes that the establishment of AIIB is a major diplomatic victory for China and a foreign policy fiasco for the United States. It argues further that the new bank is a parallel project to the existing international financial institutions and may accidentally lead to a reform of the Bretton Woods system. The paper recommends among others that AIIB should find a way to work hand-in-hand with other existing Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) since cooperation with such development agencies can engender positive image and goodwill for the new bank. It concludes that the establishment and development of AIIB need support from all over the world because AIIB is designed to provide financing methods for infrastructure in developing countries across the globe including African nations
Public Service Innovations and Changing Ethos in Africa
No full textOne of the widely held beliefs in public management is that strict commitment to an ideology of public service values, which is a critical factor in the delivery of public services. However, with the introduction of market-oriented reforms-innovations, most of these values face severe and serious challenges. This study, using a comparative and analytical method, examines the principles which underpin the African governments’ program of innovation in public service delivery and in particular the traditional public service ethos. The article reveals that over the years, African public services and those who work in them fall short of the ideal leading to the attempt to innovate by introducing the market values which have equally raised questions about possible threats to the ethos. After identifying some challenges that innovation may pose, the article suggests that traditional public sector ethos should be redefined to allow for innovative ideas in service delivery. Finally, the study concludes that a new “synthesized” ethos that draws on the core elements of bureaucratic principles as well as market based values, would deliver superior public services
THE IMPERATIVE OF “AFTER ACTION REVIEW” AS A MECHANISM FOR ENHANCING PUBLIC SERVICE PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA
No full textIn contemporary societies, delivering and maintaining public goods and services involves increased costs. As a result, questions about the performance and effectiveness of the public sector are discussed more and more often. Today, public sectors in African countries are facing challenges of improving performance and efficiency service delivery. Nigerian public sector seems not to be exempted from these maladies because the performance of Nigerian public sector has fallen short of expectations regarding the provision of services and has with inefficiency in delivering essential services. As a result, the need for public service to improve performance and efficiency in the public sector is becoming ever greater. The article discusses the usefulness of After Action Review (AAR) as a veritable tool in improving performance and effectiveness in the public sector. This article relies on secondary sources of data collection gathered through a broad review of relevant literature on the subject through books, journals, internet materials, newspaper articles, official archives and so on. The article argues that improving the performance of the public sector must take into account the efficiency, effectiveness, financial performance, and quality of service. Since it has been difficult to build a single model that would measure the performance of public organisations, the article advocates for the implementation of After Action Review as a mechanism for enhancing public service performance and efficiency in service delivery in Nigeria. It notes that AAR is a method that uses a review of experience to avoid recurrent mistakes and reproduce success. It can be used to improve responses, improve policy and procedures, and most importantly prevent the same errors from being repeated time and time again. The article believes that AAR is a powerful tool because it produces quick results in a short period and can be applied to a broad range of activities. It reveals that notwithstanding the misgivings, AAR is considered a good idea as it gives the state actors/public servants opportunity to review the mission of the organisation, what went well? What could have gone better? What might have done differently? Moreover, who needs to know more to improve performance?. The article, therefore, concludes that After Action Review is a useful mechanism for assessing performance in public sector organisation, its application in Nigerian public service, therefore, will improve performance and efficient service delivery. It recommends some measures for the successful implementation of AAR to achieve adequate performance and efficiency in public-sector management and the provision of services in the Nigerian public service in particular and Africa as a whole. been identified 
