Public service in Nigeria: Perception of young and middle‐aged adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the perception of public service in Nigeria from the standpoint of young and middle‐aged adults in Ibadan, Nigeria with a view to determining its performance and contribution to national development. Concurrent triangulation mixed methods research design was adopted in this study to collect primary data from young and middle‐aged adults in Ibadan, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics described quantitative data and principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two factors. In addition, thematic content analysis was adopted to analyze qualitative research data. Findings showed that respondents had a negative perception of public service in Nigeria both in terms of its operation and reward. Job security was perceived positively but corruption/bad behavior in the public service was most perceived negatively. Also, final year undergraduates most perceive public service negatively and public paid workers least perceived public service negatively. Knowledge of this study will benefit Nigerians who render and enjoy public services, and will be most useful for the Nigerian public service to formulate policies that will prevent self‐interested, inefficient, ineffective, and unproductive public service workforce. This study measures, for the first time, perception of Nigerian public service in terms of its operation and reward. Studies that will investigate the rationale behind young and middle‐aged adults' negative perception of and high preference for careers in Nigerian public service are recommended. Also, improvement in service delivery and in the conditions of Nigerian public service will help in correcting the negative view.

Inquiry into faith-based social reintegration programs for recovering drug addicts in Nigeria

“…Recent developments in drug addiction studies have emphasized the need to focus not just on the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts but, more importantly, on social reintegration of recovering drug addicts. There is a growing recognition that providing supportive structures such as stable and suitable education/vocational training (during or after program), accommodation (or transitional living facilities after program termination) and long-term employment for recovering drug addicts or inmates are crucial to prevent the social exclusion of victims and promote their successful reentry into society, which, in turn, result in social development and enhanced service delivery (Jayne and Williams, 2020; Oyekola et al , 2021; Siqueira et al , 2015). Until recently, efforts to rid society of the scourge of drug addiction have been mainly pursued through medical and psychological treatment, as well as the criminal justice system, specifically the sanction approach.…”

“…Thus, FBOs are described as organizations with repositories of staff and resources for the promotion of social goods. They are seen as the world’s religious bodies that engage in development to fill the gap left after the supposed withdrawal of the welfare state in several domains of public life, particularly in social welfare and in social protection (Denney, 2017; Jayne and Williams, 2020; Oyekola et al , 2021; Sager, 2011; UNODC, 2008).…”