Definition of Civil Service
The Civil Service is a branch or department of the executive branch of government. It is responsible for assisting the executive branch in planning and implementing government policies. The civil service is divided into departments called ministries. For example, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Finance, etc. The political head and director general of a ministry is the minister or commissioner.The Director General (Permanent Secretary) is the administrative and accounting head of the ministry. Public companies, police, armed forces, etc. They are not part of public administration, but of a public service. The civil service differs from the civil service in terms of service. A public employee is called a civil servant. The transition from Permanent Secretary to Director General made during the Babangida administration was reinstated as Permanent Secretary in the Abacha administration. There is a state civil service and a federal civil service.
Characteristics of the Civil Service
1. Impartiality: Civil servants are expected to be honest and fair to any government in power. You have to have trust in every government.
2.Persistence: It is an institution that does not change with the government. Employees also benefit from remaining in office.
3. Anonymity: A public official is not expected to disclose information or speak to the press without the permission of the Minister or the Director-General. The effectiveness or failure of the government in any area is not blamed on the officials but on the minister.
4. Neutrality: Military personnel are not expected to participate in partisan political activities unless they leave service.
5. Professional competence: Specialists are trained in the area of administration. This is because they have been working for many years.
6. Performance: Employment is based on performance. This increases efficiency in their areas of application.
Structure of the Nigerian Civil Service
Below are some of the structures of the Nigerian Civil Service.
1. Administrative Class: This is the highest class and mainly consists of general managers, deputy general managers, principal officers, etc. Most of them are graduates of various disciplines with many years of professional experience. They participate in policy development, advise ministers or commissioners and in other areas of administration.
2nd professional class: They are mainly hired as specialists in various categories. For example, lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc. 3rd Management Class: includes officers, managing directors, deputy managing directors, etc. The holders of the first class, H.N.D.etc. They are responsible for implementing government policies.
4. Office class: They have a pedagogical degree and are mostly clerks, clerks, typists, etc. They do routine tasks like transporting files from one office to another, etc.
5. Messenger Class: These are usually cleaners, delivery boys, drivers, etc. Their job is to clean the office, drive company vehicles or deliver official messages.
Functions of the Public Service
1. Policy Formulation: They formulate policies and are part of the objectives of the government.
2. Policy Implementation: Ensures implementation of established policies.
3.Budget Preparation: Prepare an annual statement of expected government revenues and expenditures.
4. Bills: These bills are prepared by some experts from the Ministry of Justice. The executive submits these bills to the legislature.
5. They contain implementing provisions: The power to create implementing provisions is possible through delegated legislation. A senior government official may issue a regulation or law.
6. They advise the government: They advise the government on the problems that the country needs to address to achieve a better outcome.
7. They guarantee stability: They guarantee the continuity of government, which guarantees stability.
8. Prepare answers to parliamentary questions: Ministers in a parliamentary system defend government policy through this preparation.
9. Inform the public: Inform the public about government measures and policies.
10.Archiving Records: Official civil documents relevant to the government of the time.
11. Handles correspondence: The Civil Service handles correspondence, bulletins and forms related to the government.
12. National and International Conferences: Allows government employees to attend national and international conferences and seminars on behalf of the government.
13. Judicial-like tasks: The public service carries out judicial-like tasks.
14. Regulations: The public service establishes regulations for its internal functioning.
15.Revenue Generation: Generates revenue for the government.