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FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE AND RECRUITMENT IN NIGERIAN CIVIL SERVICE (2007-2011): AN APPRAISAL
ABSTRACT:
Nigeria, as a matter of fact is a heterogeneous state, consisting of various segments or ethnic groups. Each group is unique with its own culture, religion, political system, to mention but a few. Based on its heterogeneous nature, Nigeria adopted federalism to suit its polity. Notably, political and economic imbalances exist among and between the various states or ethnic groups that make up Nigeria. These imbalances originated from the nature and character of the post colonial Nigerian State. These imbalances exist in almost every sector of the economy, hence, creating a feeling of marginalization among some segments/groups, which has led to conflicts, mistrust, etc, among the ethnic groups. In order to solve these problems, which have hampered efforts on national integration and national loyalty and above all led to the collapse of the First Republic, Nigerian government resulted to adopt the Federal Character Principle which found its way in the Nigeria Constitution in 1979. The Federal Character Commission is a commission set up by Degree No.34 of 1996 to ensure that the Federal Character Principle is fully implemented and enforced. The application of the Federal Character Principle in the recruitment of staffs in Nigerian Civil Service has resulted in the recruitment of incompetent hands in Nigerian Civil Service. This has resulted in the ineffectiveness, inefficiency, lack of professionalism and low productivity of the Nigerian Civil Service. In other words, the Federal Character Commission has deviated from its function of ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of the Federal Character Principle. Hence, the theory of the Federal Character principle is different from its practice. In order to solve these problems, we recommend that the legislative arm of government should ensure through its oversight function the effective and efficient implementation and enforcement of the Federal Character Principle by the executive arm of government – The Federal Character Commission (an agency of the Federal Government charged with the responsibility of effective and efficient implementation and enforcement of the Federal Character Principle). Secondly, the recruitment and promotion of staffs in the Nigerian Civil Service should be based on merit rather than mediocrity, etc
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria, Africa‘s most populous black nation is a federation (section 2 subsection 2 of the 1999, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria). Like many African States, Nigerian is an ethnically deeply divided State with over 250 ethnic groups. The Northern part consists of the Fulani, Hausa, Nupe, etc, the Southern part consists of the Yorubas, Edo, Urhobo, etc, the Eastern part consists of the Igbos. Each group not only inhabits a particular area but has its own language, culture, religion, etc (Adeosun, 2011).
As a multi-ethnic state, Nigeria is confronted with myriad of problems ranging from the caustic existence among the different groups, fear of domination of one group and unequal distribution of the national resources such as recruitment in Nigeria Civil Service. These problems have resulted mainly in inter-ethnic conflicts and mutual distrust which have hampered efforts at national integration. Successive governments have tried to resolve these problems through policies such as the Federal Character Principle, Unity Schools, Local Government Creation, etc.
By 1975, under the regime of the Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, the issues of Federal Character became a very serious contending political issue as the continuous existence of disparities in the levels of social, economic and political development of the federating units worsened. This occasioned a situation where many of the citizens and various ethnic groups began to feel marginalized, ignored and excluded in the operations of government. This issue led to the setting up of a Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) in 1977, by the late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed led government (Hirnyam, 2011)
Presently, the Federal Character Principle is recognized by the 1999, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Principle is enshrined in Section 14 subsection3 and 4 of the same constitution. According to Section 14(3):
“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or any of its agencies”.
Section 14(4) says:
“The composition of the Government of a State, a Local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the federation” (FRN, 1999).
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) is a Federal Agency established by Act No. 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts (Civil Service and Public Service) and socio-economic infrastructure among the various Federating Units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Some scholars like Hirnyam, Igwe, etc, argue strongly that the Federal Character Commission does not perform in the spirit and manner of the Federal Character Principle in the recruitment of civil servants in Nigeria Civil Service. That stands to be the main reason why the Nigerian Civil Service is characterized by incompetent leadership, unqualified, less-qualified and inexperienced civil servants, inefficiency and ineffectiveness and among others. Igwe, (2012), argues that the Federal Character Principle has only managed to further deepen disunity, promote incompetence in the civil service and advance inequality, sectional nepotism and corruption.
The Civil Service is the machinery through which the government implements its policies designed to meet political aims and provide social services to the people. The Civil Service as an instrument of the government is designed to play an important function in ensuring that the policies of government result in tangible services for the entire population. Ogunrotifa (2012), noted that without the body of professional civil servant, national government cannot operate effectively and efficiently. In the case of Nigerian Civil Service, the revise is the case. The ineffectiveness, inefficiency, incompetence among the leadership and other civil servants, to mention but a few, that are attributed to Nigerian Civil Service are rooted in the application of the Federal Character Principle by the Federal Character Commission in the recruitment of civil servants.
We believe that, there is nothing wrong with the Federal Character Principle, the major problem is its implementation by the Federal Character Commission. In the recruitment of civil servants in Nigerian Civil Service, we argue further that there is no significant relationship between the Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service. We advice the Federal Character Commission to work in the same spirit of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) that drafted the Principle, in the recruitment of civil servants in Nigerian Civil Service, as to attain professionalism and competence in the Civil Service. Hence, ensure the implementation of the Federal Character Principle I order to achieve the objectives of the Principle.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.
The Nigerian State as a multi-ethnic State like many other African States has been confronted with myriad of problems ranging from the rancorous existence among different ethnic groups/sectional groups that constitute the state, fear of domination of one group by another and unequal distribution of the national resources among the ethnic groups. In order to address and solve these problems for national unity and co-existence, successive governments have drafted policies such as Federal Character Principle, Unity Schools, Local Government Creation, to mention but a few.
The Federal Character Principle is a very powerful instrument designed to promote national unity and command national loyalty and also promote a sense of belonging among the federating units of the state. In other words, it is designed to ensure that the composition of the Government of the federation, State, Local Government Council or any of the agencies of such Government or council and the conduct of the affairs of such Government or council is not dominated by any ethnic/sectional group or a few groups (ethnic/sectional group). The Federal Character Principle is enshrined in Section 14 Subsection 3 and 4 of the 1999, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The application of the Federal Character Principle in the recruitment of civil servants in Nigerian Civil Service by the Federal Character Commission has turned the Principle from a very powerful instrument to solve the problems of multi-ethnicity and ensure efficiency, effectiveness and professionalism in Nigerian Civil Service to a very powerful instrument used to deepen disunity, promote incompetence, ineffectiveness and inefficiency in Nigerian Civil Service as less qualified and incompetent civil servants are employed in Nigerian Civil Service in the name of the Federal Character Principle. Hence, it has advanced inequality, sectional nepotism and corruption both in the Civil Service and in the State at large.
Argument and perceptions of some scholars about the Federal Character Principle cumulated with the inability of the Federal Character Commission to work in the spirit and manner of the provisions of the constitution and its enabling Act, towards the recruitment of civil servants in Nigerian Civil Service prompted us to ask ―is there any significant relationship between the Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service‖?
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- 1. Is there any significant relationship between the Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service?
- How does the Federal Character Principle impact on civil service in Nigerian?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY.
The broad objective of the work is to examine the impact of Federal Character Principle on recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service. The specific objectives are to:
- Examine the nature of Federal Character Principle and Federal Character Commission;
- Examine Nigerian Civil Service and its method of recruitment;
- Determine the relationship between the Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service, and offer some policy options and solutions.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study has both practical and theoretical significances. It will be a handful tool to Nigerian legislators and advisers of the government to identify and address the causes of non-implementation and enforcement of the Federal Character Principle by the Federal Character Commission in order to solve the problems of multi-ethnicity, fear of domination by one or few ethnic groups, etc, by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of national resources in the recruitment of civil servants in Nigerian Civil Service among the ethnic groups, in order to promote national unity and command national loyalty in the state.
Other States‘ governments and legislators who are confronted with the problems associated with ethnicity or multi-ethnicity, fear of domination by one or few ethnic groups, unequal distribution of the national resources, etc, can adopt the Principle of the Federal Character and ensure its implementation and enforcement in order to resolve these problems and enhance national unity and command national loyalty in their states.
Nonetheless,, it will be beneficiary to upcoming researchers as a guide or blueprint for further researches.
1.6 HYPOTHESES
- There is no significant relationship between the Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service;
- There is no significant impact on Civil Service productivity in Nigeria through the Federal Character Principle.
1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.
This research work makes use of secondary source of data collection method to collect the necessary and valid information from already existing literatures, articles, journals, write ups, and internet materials.
1.8 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.
This research work is delimited to examine Federal Character Principle and recruitment in Nigerian Civil Service from 20007-2011.
In carrying out this research work, a lot of time and resources were spent in order to get the research work done effectively. The secondary data used in this work were difficult and costly to get. In the process of accessing the web/internet, the researcher also experience network failures/problems. Despite the limitations of the study, the researcher was still able to overcome them and carryout the research work to the fulfillment with the information that is available.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS.
This research is intended to define some terms used in this study. However, some of the terms are:
1. FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE:
Federal Character Principle is a deliberate arrangement made by a state government with a legal back-up to solve the problems associated with multi-ethnicity or ethnicity, fear of domination by one or few ethnic/sectional groups, unequal distribution of the national resources, and the need to promote national unity, and also command national loyalty, by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of the national resources among the ethnic/sectional groups that constitute the state.
2. FEDERAL CHARACTER COMMISSIO (FCC).
Federal Character Commission (FCC) is a Federal Executive body establishes by Act No. 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts (Civil Service and Public Service) and socio-economic infrastructures among the various federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
3. RECRUITMENT.
Recruitment is defined as a process or specific steps through which suitable candidates are attracted to apply for examination and declaring the right candidates for particular jobs.
4. CIVIL SERVICE
Civil Service is the machinery through which the government implements its policies, designed to meet political aims and provide social services. In other words, it is a government institution that plays important role in ensuring that government policies result in tangible services for the entire population.