ETHICS IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE: A DISCOURSE

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to highlight the indispensability of ethics or sound ethical conduct as a basis for effective service delivery in the Nigerian public sector. If Nigeria must get development initiative/efforts right in the 21stcentury, then the transformation agenda of this present administration must be anchored on sound public service values and enduring ethical practices. This work relied on the utilitarian theory as the theoretical framework while using mostly secondary sources of data by way of content analysis. The paper concluded that the march towards an ethical based public service must continue and be regarded as series of “work in progress”. The paper recommends among others that there is an urgent and continuous need to remould the thought and conduct of civil servants and the entire public service and its officials through the development of ethics and value reorientation that is based on probity, accountability and transparency in the public service. It further recommended strong commitment to implementation of laws, enforcement of sanctions and strengthening of institutions of governance on a continuous basis.