By Henry Akubuiro
Public speaking creates an immediate impact on the audience present at a forum. But to reach a wider audience, the public intellectual must leverage on documentation by making the text available in black and white. The ease to access a public domain work raises a greater awareness of the issues being discussed and the acceptability of the public intellectual beyond the orbit of close-knit kindred spirits.
Bukar Usman is the master of documentation. Many of lectures he has presented at symposiums, conferences and cultural gatherings, as well as interviews granted to the media over the years have been turned into books and pamphlets – a market of ideas in which the young and old visit to broaden their intellectual horizons.
Enter Reflections on the Nigerian public Service: The Way Forward for Governance, the latest offering of the author from a lead paper presentation at a symposium organised by the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) to mark its maiden Annual Week, held at Rotunda, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, March 5-7, 2024.
The symposium was co-chaired by the ex-finance minister, HRM Oba Dr. Samuel Oluyemi Falae, CFR, GCON, Olu of Ilu-Abo, and the Baba Oba of Akure Kingdom and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, GCON, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister.
The thrust of Usman’s reflections dwell on the structure, character and performance of the Nigerian Public Service under two broad political eras (colonial and post-colonial), taking into account its peculiar shape and reshaping under post-colonial era’s different political systems.
These include Nigerian Public Service under Colonial Rule (January 1, 1914 – October 1960), Nigerian Public Service under Post-Colonial Administrations (1960 – date). The latter is further broken down into Nigerian Public Service under Parliamentary System of Government, Nigerian Public Service under Military Rule, and Nigerian Public Service under Presidential System of Government.
Usman regards 1914 as the takeoff of Nigerian colonial public service, for that was when Nigeria became a unified entity, geographically, politically and administratively, under British Governor-General Lord Frederick Lugard. The author submits that Nigerian Public Service during the colonial era was comparatively simpler compared to the intricate structure of the post-colonial era.
Among others, he says the prevailing culture of the public service in Nigeria during the colonial era was characterised by wholehearted devotion to public service, prompt granting of privileges, discipline, transparency, integrity, devotion, accountability and strict observation of protocols at public functions. But the post-colonial public service, unlike the former, embraced parliamentary, military and presidential administrations.
Having joined the public service as a Third Class-Clerk in 1965, Usman testifies that the culture and momentum in terms of practices and procedures obtainable in the Nigerian Public Service of the colonial era hitherto mentioned were inherited and observed to a reasonable extent in the immediate post-colonial years. He, however, notes that existing working relationship was worsened by two “earthquakes” which military administrations inflicted on the public service – the purge in the civil service in 1975 and the civil service reforms of 1988.
Going by public opinion, he says there is a long-standing and continuing serious concern about the performance of the Nigerian Public Service regarding adequacy of Power Supply, provision of healthcare, Pay as You Go (PAYG) pension administration, Municipal Water Supply, Management of the education sector, conduct of elections, financial management, public safety, contract awards, cost of governance, foreign influence and general deviations from correct conduct.
The public intellectual advocates for a multifaceted solution, including private-public partnership, adherence to universal principles of management, improved conduct of elections, financial probity, conflict of interest, better dispensation of justice, implementation of cost-saving measure, public safety, improved power supply, developing a functional iron and steel industry, improving mass transportation channel, etcetera.
In conclusion, the author says: “The Nigerian Public Service of the colonial era was not as large as the post-colonial service and did not command as much resources as we have today; yet, it was more effective in delivery of services. The challenge of the Nigerian Public Service now and in the future is essentially behavioural and calls for a change of attitude to the conduct and management of public affairs. The rules on the ground, some of which were fashioned since 1914 when Nigeria was created, are sufficient guidance. The challenges centre on compliance with and enforcement of the rules and this essentially rests on leadership at all levels of governance, particularly leadership at the topmost levels.”