NIGERIA
There is a need for greater synergy between the Nigerian Public Service and academia if the current slide in bureaucratic efficiency is to be halted, a political scientist and public administrator has claimed.
Professor Tunji Olaopa (pictured) advocated a revisiting of the leadership model introduced in the 1970s in Western Nigeria by Chief Simeon Adebo, which recognised that efficiency in the Public Service could not be derived solely from the professional competencies of the PS staff, but also needed input from academia.
“Adebo put in place a structural dynamic that brought together Civil Servants and academics in a town–gown relationship that infused the Civil Service administration with debated and brainstormed ideas and innovation to function at optimal performance,” Professor Olaopa said.
He said that collaboration began with what was initially referred to as the “A Club”, later developing into the Regional Economic Planning Advisory Committee, which drew on the resources of the University of Ibadan and the then University of Ife.
“This practice was also reinforced by the establishment of what was known as the Administrative Research Group, an ad hoc committee attached to the Office of the Head of Service, whose members were not burdened with executive preoccupation but were fully into analytic thinking and reflections on critical issues,” Professor Olaopa said.
Drawing on several historical references and recent experiences, Professor Olaopa lamented the level of incompetence, inefficiency, time wastage and red-tape that characterised the Public Service today.
He also called for a clear demarcation between the Public Service and politics.
“Even though politics sets the tasks for administration, it should not be suffered to manipulate its offices,” Professor Olaopa said.
“The tasks of administration are non-partisan, detailed and managerial.”
Abuja, 6 January 2019
