Observation

This question was popular as most candidates attempted it. A greater percentage of candidates’ performance to this question was above average. The flaw on the part of candidates is basically because they just highlighted the characteristics of public service thereby losing out the full marks allocated to the question.  Expected points candidates should have highlighted are:

DEFINITION PUBLIC SERVICE

Public service refers to government owned founded and operated organization/agencies established by law and staffed by permanent officials to execute programmes and policies of government of a state e.g. civil service and public corporations.

 

REASONS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF PEOPLE FROM INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA

1. Permanence: the civil service remains intact while government changes periodically.
2. Neutrality: civil servants are required to be politically neutral so that they can serve faithfully any government in power no matter the controlling party.
3. Impartiality. This implies that civil servants should discharge their official duties fairly to all the people they are serving, without religious class, gender, ethnic or any other sectional biases.
4. Anonymity: This implies that civil servants cannot be held responsible for their official actions. Civil servants should not be blamed nor praised for any policy failure. The serving minister should be praised or blamed.
5. Bureaucracy. The civil service is characterized by very strict adherence to established rules and regulations; which sometimes causes delay in the implementation of government policies and programmes.