SS3 Civic Education Lesson Note on Public Service in a Democracy

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TOPIC:                     PUBLIC SERVICE IN A DEMOCRACY

CONTENT: 

1. Meaning of Public service
2. Reasons for the short comings in the public Services
3. Meaning of Public Service

Public service can be defined as the arm of executive organ of  government set up to provide administrative and technical services for the smooth running of government agencies, corporation, parastatals, and ministries that render public service. It is the unit of government which is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out day to day operation for the smooth running of the government. It can also be defined as the totality of administration / structure within which the work of government is carried out.

However, it is important to note that public service is different from the civil service,

while civil service is a component of the public service, it is that part of the executive arm of government responsible for the implementation of government policies and programmes. Workers of the civil service are recruited by the civil service commission, paid from the consolidated fund of the government and are called civil servants.

The public service is set up by an Act of parliament for the provision of services such as postal services pipe-born water, electricity, education, security etc. Basically, public service as set up by the government can be likened to  an enterprise being run and financed by the government. These enterprises or public service institution are also known as corporations or parastatals e..g Nigerian Railway corporation, Nigerian Port Authority, Nigerian National Petroleum corporation, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria etc. Government appoints a board of directors over each of these corporations or parastatals to oversee their affairs for a special period of time.

Principles /Characteristics of the Public Service

The public service is guided on established principles:

1. Political Neutrality: Public servants are not expected to be involved in partisan politics. Though they are allowed to vote during elections, they are to be neutral and not card carrying members of any political party. Their loyalties are to any government in power and are expected to serve with dedication and commitment for the success of the government.
2. Impartiality: Public servants are expected to be impartial in the discharge of their regulated duties, functions, responsibilities and assignment. They are not to be biased or disloyal to the government of the day but are expected to render effective, efficient, adequate and enduring service without fear or favor.
3. Anonymous.: public servant is anonymous. They are only seen but not allowed to speak to the press on behalf of the government, nor disclose official secrets or documents unless if authorized by the minister.
4. Permanence / continuity: the public service is essentially a permanent government institution which does not change with government that created it. Its workers also enjoy secure appointment. When there is change of power and government, public servants remain. They enjoy permanent and pensionable appointment.

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