CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS IN NIGERIA : A HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY

Abstract

The article examined past civil /public service reforms in Nigeria, their objectives, , philosophies, key highlights and their impacts were also xrayed. The Hunt Commission, 1934, the Harriagn commission, 1945, the Foot Commission, 1948 , Gorsuch Committee (1954), Mbanefo Commission (1959) Morgan Salaries and Wages Commission (1963),Elwood Grading Team, 1963, Adebo Salaries and Grading Commission, 1971, Udoji Public Service Review Commission (1974), , Gammaliel Onosode Reform, 1984, The 1988 civil service reforms, the Ayida Review Panel (1994) and the Obasanjos decentralized reforms of 1999 to 2007 were examined. Generally it was observed that the many reforms did not make much positive impact on the civil service, mainly due to ulterior motives, partial and lopsided implementation, laced with corruption, nepotism, vendetta. The Udoji Commission of 1974 and the 1988 reforms were the most comprehensive, the Udoji reforms increased wages of civil servants fairly substantially and introduced the Grade Levels 1 – 17 grading system. The 1988 refoms was able to reduce the conflicts between the administrative and Professional cadre officers, it elongated the steps on the grade levels but on the other hand it politicized and encouraged corruption in the civil service. . Many minor reforms took place during the Olusegun Obasanjos Presidency between 1999 to 2007,which touched on monetization, pension, salaries etc, as against the usual integrated reforms of the past. It was concluded that we have had too many civil/public service reforms over the years but with little positive impact on the civil service. The article recommends sincere motives rather than ulterior motives in instituting reforms, as well as all round implementation laced with honesty and sincerity of purpose should and must be brought to bear in the implementation of reports of civil/public service reforms.