Staff Recruitment, Selection and Placement Policy Under a Presidential System of Government: A Case Study of Ebonyi State Civil Service 1998-2000

Abstract

This research work is an outgrowth of my utmost desire and zeal to study

the method of recruitment, selection and placement in the Ebonyi State Civil

Service as to find explanation to the problem of public out cry against the

declining quality of the Nigeria public service and Ebonyi state civil service in

particular. We also looked into the historical development and organizational

service.

The use of both primary and secondary information sources is to gather

as much information as possible. The primary source of information for the

study consists of interview survey. Two hundred members of staff of the

Ebonyi State Civil Service who are strategically placed in various

departmentdextra ministerial departments were interviewed. The secondary

' sources of data collection for the study consist of library materials such as

textbooks, journals, articles, circulars, publications, approved estimate of

Ebonyi state of Nigeria, Schemes of service for use in the civil servicev oI f

federation of Nigeria, Guidelines for appointments, promotions and discipline

in' the g vernment of Ebonyi State civil service (CSC/Document No 1 of 2000)

The theoretical framework of analysis considered possible and

appropriate .for the study is the classical Elites Theory. The analysis of the

theory shows that the problem of'the Ebonyi state civil service stems from the

struggle between the political and bureaucratic elites in the state.

In addressing the research problem we hypothesized as follows:-

(a) The more merit is ignored in recruitment, selection and

placement, the lower the morale and the less effective the

performance of civil service in Ebonyi State

(b) The application of the quota system policy staff recruitment,

selection and placement is grossly abused in Ebonyi State civil

service.

(c) In the placement of staff in the Ebonyi Sate civil Service,

individual capability is ranked lower than political patronage.

Different types of qualitathe statistical Where a hypothesis demanded the use of documentary evidence

analysis of data was the dominant tool. Where it involved

largely statistical data, we made use of percentages.

Central to the findings of this study are:

i. On the basis of quota system, people were posted to head

sections departments which by virtue of their training, skill and

performance, they could not have gotten under merit system.

' I

The application of quota system policy in staff recruitment,

I

selection and placement is grossly abused in Ebonyi State civil

service.

Individual capability is in no form a criterion for placement in

Ebonyi state civil service.

Ebonyi State civil service is performing below expectation.

The Ebonyi State civil service is under - staffed.

I of the above findings we propose the following recommendations

can mitigate the problems now and capable of preventing it's

future occurrence.

there is the need for the state civil service to base recruitment,

selection and placement on merit; reduce political patronage and

. minimize indiscipline and corrupt practices.

The application of the federal character doctrine should be reexamined

to ensure that efficiency and effectiveness of the civil

service are not compromised through the enthronement of

mediocrity into sensitive and strategic positions.

There is need to train and retrain the state civil servants adequately.

We recommended that the present work and study programmes embarked upon by the state government be pursued with vigour.