THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE SYNDROM OF MONKEY DE WORK, BABOO DE CHOP OR GOVERNMENT WORK IS NO MAN’S WORK

Abstract

This paper discussed the nonchalant attitude and negative behaviours in the civil service. It stated that the general procedure of doing things in the civil service or the civil service rules and guidelines are no longer followed or either neglected or thrown overboard. The paper was of opinion that most of the production level of most organizations in Nigeria are low because the civil servants or employees are not treated favorably in the area of needs and expectations, therefore the resultant effects are the manifestations of certain behaviours and attitudes which have seriously affected the level of production in the service. The paper discovered other serious factors that have contributed to this negative manifestation in the Civil Service, which include the level of corruption, nepotism, Neo-patrimonial behavior of the elite and those of the political class. The observation in the civil service is that it is a place where monkey works while Baboon eats. This has led to the syndrome of “Government work is no man’s work”. The paper concluded by recommending a way forward which include proper handling of the physiological factors, needs and desires of the civil servants such as their retirement benefits and the sociological factors which include strengthening of the week institutional structures and cumbersome administrative procedures which affect compliance to the rules and regulations in the Civil Service.