Opinion
Civil Service Of Our Dream
The 2009 Civil Service Week in Rivers State held June 21-24, would be an event to remember many years to come. With the theme “Fostering Partnerships and Collaborations for Sustainable Development and Improved Service Delivery”, it re-activated the central purpose of public administration, which is the utilisation of scarce resources for the growth and development of a given polity.
The event which started on Sunday June 21 with a Thanksgiving Service at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church Hospital Road, Port Harcourt featured presentation of papers, goodwill messages, and awards, symposia, football cup competition, and charity visits by the Head of Service, Mrs Esther Egwuma Anucha who mounted the saddle in 2007.
The special packaging of the programme this year provided opportunities for civil servants, and indeed, public servants, not only to highlight the contributions of the public service to the progress of the state and the nation but also to recharge themselves for the challenges ahead especially in the face of the present global economic crisis with the attendant dwindling resources.
To help public servants in the state embrace their duties and responsibilities with adequate knowledge and zeal, the programme focused on such topics as Repositioning State Institutions and Forging Partnerships for the Challenges of Sustainable Development, Public Procurement Law and GoodGovernance, Partnerships/Collaborations and Investments Opportunities for Civil Servants, and The New Pension Reform Law and its Implications.
Apparently, the Head of Service, Mrs Anucha, has caught the fire for a civil service of our dream in the state; a civil service that is committed to change, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. In her words: “We must note that the pressure for greater responsiveness of the public service for improved quality of life to our people is growing everyday. The vision and mission of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has made change in the State Civil Service inevitable. In an era when we are building the Greater Port Harcourt New City, building and managing model primary and post primary schools and world class health centres, building world class flyovers, embarking on e-payment of salary and embracing an effective ICT system, it is clear that our public service cannot continue to be virile, without embracing change”.
But for her to walk her talk and build a Civil Service of our dream, she has to deal decisively with the weaknesses associated with the public service, some of which are unnecessary re-tapism and waste, lack of dedication to duty, corruption, indiscipline, lack of precision, speed, and resistance to change. It goes without saying that years after the Udoji Commission on Public Service called for a new conception of management based on result-oriented approach to public service, these inadequacies are still prevalent in the practice of public administration in the country. It has been argued that the administrative weakness of the Nigerian Public Service is one important feature that distinguishes the country from the advanced nations.
Yes, a country or state may have an abundance of resources and the best economic policies in the world but if its public service fails to implement the policies and programmes efficiently, that country’s problems cannot be solved.
With the assiduousness of the Head of Service, Mrs Anucha, and a pragmatic, result-oriented governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, hopes are high that the Rivers State Public Service will be repositioned to meet the socio-economic challenges of the day. The concessional promotion of some civil servants who had suffered stagnation in their positions, training, allocation of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd phases of the Marine Base quarters totaling 109 units to civil servants on owner-occupier basis, payment of 15 per cent consolidated salary and passage of the Pension Reform Law, among others, are clear indications that the future is bright for civil servants and civil service in the state.
But a lot more is still expected. It is expected that the renovation of the State Secretariat complex which appears to be very slow should be completed so that the civil servants can face their responsibilities in a conducive atmosphere. In other words, the toilet facilities, elevators, air-conditioners and water system should be restored to serve the needs of the civil servants.
It is also expected that the offices of the civil servants should be furnished with modern office provisions including computers, internet facilities, television and radio sets. It is time manual typewriters are phased out completely in all the departments of the service.
It is also expected that each ministry should have adequate pool vehicles and that all the Directors should be provided with official cars not only to boost morale and swell status but more importantly to enhance execution of assignments especially in the face of the chaotic transport situation in Port Harcourt. And it is, as well, expected that approved budget for the public service should be duly implemented and overhead utilised for the proper day-to-day running of the ministries and departments.
Building the civil service of our dream calls for dedicated, honest, knowledgeable and methodical staff who are humble servants of the people, and not just servants of politics. And it calls for the necessary and sufficient material and financial resources required for efficient and effective modern service delivery.
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo