WORK ETHICS AND SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA PUBLIC SERVICE

Abstract

The Nigerian public service is an important national institution.  It provides support to constituted government, and also provides the enabling environment that can help public servants contribute to good economic development through effective service delivery. Unfortunately, the unbecoming behaviour of public servants hurts service delivery in Nigeria.  It is a matter of grave concern that public service in Nigeria is facing ethical crisis, which manifests in the pervasive absence of accountability, institutionalization of corrupt practices and new forms of cutting corners or what some writers have described as briberisation.  Against this backdrop, the study examined work ethics and how it affects quality service delivery in the Nigeria public service. The study adopted consequential list theory as its theoretical framework of analysis. Data for the study were drawn from participant observation and authentic secondary sources.  The study identified that unethical behaviour in the Nigeria public service is high and unacceptable and has negatively affected quality service delivery and sustenance of services to the public. The study recommended among others, the imposition of severe punishments on public servants that breach the Code of Conduct in Public Service.  The study concluded that public officials in Nigeria should improve on their ethical practices, to enable them achieve their goals of providing sufficient and effective service to the public.