GRACELAND COLLEGE ENUGU

NOTE OF LESSONS THIRD TERM

CIVIC EDUCATION
11th GRADE

THIRD TERM SCHEME OF WORK FOR 11TH GRADE

WEEKS TOPICS
1 Inter-personal relationships: Meaning and
Types
2 Skills that promote inter-personal relationships
3 Inter-communal relationship: Meaning and
Importance
4 Skills for resolving inter-communal conflicts
5 Human Rights: Meaning and Basic
characteristics
6 Classification and differentiations of Human
right categories
7 Public Service: Meaning and Functions
8 Shortcomings and ways of improving the Public
Service in Nigeria
9 Public Complaint Commission
TOPIC: INTER PERSONAL RELATIONS

Learning objectives: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

- Define and explain the meaning of inter-personal relationships.

- State the different ways/forms of inter-personal relationships.
- Enumerate and explain types of inter-personal relationships.
- Identify basic positive and negative influence of peer grouping.

WHAT IS INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP?

Interpersonal relationship is a strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or

more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring. This association may be based on
love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment.

It is the mutual, reciprocal relationship or relatedness, connection or affiliation between and among
people in the community. An example is the relationship between the teacher and the students.

Interpersonal relationship could also be defined as the interaction that exists between persons in a
social setting or organization. It is equally seen as mutual or cordial relationships that exist between
people despite race, age, colour, tribe, and political, social or religious affiliations.

FORMS OF INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

Inter personal relationship can take any of these forms:

 Co-operation
 Competition
 Conflict
 Coercion
 Exchange

CHARACTERISTICS OF INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

Interpersonal communication has the following features

 Independent individuals: It is expected that any aspect of this relationship exist between
individuals who have the capacity to engage in it. For instance marriage relationship can only
exist between two adult individuals who have the legal, economic, physiological and
psychological capacities to engage in such relationship.

 Inherently rational: It is believed and expected that such relationships are reasonable, and
established for sustenance of positive values.

 Communication based: Every type of interpersonal relationship depends on communication

to thrive and be sustained. Without communication there will be no interpersonal
relationship.
  Choice based: Interpersonal relationship of whatever kind is guided by the choice of the
individuals entering into such relationship. Thus, it is a personal choice of the student to
choose his/her friends in school.

STAGES OF INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

i. Acquaintance Stage: This starts from the point when two people meet each other newly.
People can meet in school, church, club, parties, aeroplane e.t.c

ii. The Building-up Stage: This is the stage where relationship extends beyond just knowing
each other. At this stage, people develop strong, deep and genuine confidence, hope, trust
e.t.c in each other.

iii. Continuation Stage: This is the stage where relationship deepens. Here, there exists deep
down level of closeness, joy, passion, intimacy and feelings for each other.

iv. Deterioration Stage: This is the stage where all the flakes of the relationship begin to wane.

v. Termination Stage: At this stage, relationship ends either by the event of death of one
partner, separation or divorce.

TYPES OF INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

A. Relationship among peers: This is relationship among people who share certain common
social status. This could be among classmates, members of the same club or faith based
groups, neighbours, age groups, playmates etc.
This is easily the largest network of inter-personal relationship that exists in our
communities. It involves co-operations, competitions, conflicts, coercion and exchanges. This
type of relationship comes with both positive and negative influences.

B. Romantic relationship: This refers to intimate relationship between lovers (a man and a
woman) which involves deep and emotional attachments. Oftentimes, it leads to marriage
relationship.

C. Marriage relationship: Relationship between man and woman; an adult male human being
is a man. He is capable of performing functions in economic, cultural, social, and political
spheres of life.

D. Family relationship: This is the type of interpersonal bond formed by members of the same
family; nuclear or extended. It is that relationship between parents and their children,
between siblings in a nuclear family or siblings in an extended family.

E. Business relationship: This kind of relationship evolves among business partners and
associates in the course of engaging and concluding their business deals.
 F. Workplace relationship: This is the kind of interpersonal bonding between people that work
in the same place, for instance teachers that work in Graceland College.

G. Formal relationship: This could be between people who do not know each other very well or
even those who are not willing to be friends but have to work together. Here, relationship is
based on rules of polite behaviour.

H. Informal relationship: This is the type of interpersonal relationship where parties are
friendly to each other and where relationship is not guided by official rules.

I. Close relationship: Parties here are close confidants and oftentimes are of great help to each
other in times of need.

J. Relationship between individuals and government: the ways through which an individual
can relate with the government are through `Duties and Obligations`. The government will in
return guarantee the rights of the individual.

EVALUTION

1. What is interpersonal relationship?

2. List the different forms interpersonal relationship can take.
3. Mention three basic features/characteristics of interpersonal relationship.
4. Identify five types of interpersonal relationship.
5. The relationship among Graceland Students can be classified under which type and
why?
TOPIC: SKILLS THAT PROMOTE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS/PEER GROUPING

Learning objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to

1. State basic skills that promote inter-personal relations.

2. Identify basic positive and negative influence of peer group relationship.

SKILLS THAT ENHANCE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

Inter-personal relationship is multi-layered; from the family to the classroom, worship centres,
markets overt, the work place, business centres, to state systems and the play centres. Its
importance to human survival and fulfilment cannot be over-emphasized. Various skills therefore are
needed to enhance such relationship.

A person with high interpersonal skill might be able to:

 Speak and people listen

 Perform work task with greater ease

 Negotiate easily

 Be highly charismatic

 Attract high empathy

 Be socially assertive

 Be more likeable

 Be a productive workman/student

 Be a successful businessman or woman

It is important therefore that will should not just know these skills but strive to acquire them. The
skills include the following.
 i. Verbal communication: This is what we say, how we say it and how it is received by others.

ii. Non-Verbal communication: This is what we say without words, body language is an
example.

iii. Listening skills: This is how we interpret both the verbal and non verbal messages sent by
others.

iv. Honesty: This is the attribute of being truthful, sincere and straight forward in ones dealings
with others in the society.

v. Tolerance: This is the ability or willingness of an individual or groups to accept opinions or

behaviour that you may not agree with.

vi. Love: Love can be summarised as an intense feeling of euphoria and deep affection for
someone or something. Love is the glue that keeps a relationship strong and solid.

vii. Kindness: Kindness is to be openly happy for the other person. Kindness is also about telling
the truth in a gentle way when doing so is helpful to the other person. Kindness which also
means receiving accurate feedback in a loving and caring way is an important part of a
trusted relationship.

viii. Patience: The ability to stay calm and accept delay on something annoying without
complaining.

ix. Respect: Respect is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship. But what exactly
is respect? Respect means that you recognize that your partner is a whole person, and not
just a way to get something that you want. It means that you know your partner has
different experiences and opinions from you.

x. Trust: A relationship with no trust is like a car without fuel. You can stay in it, but it won’t go
anywhere. Trust thrives on truth, transparency, niceness and genuineness of emotions.

xi. Forgiveness: Relationships gets stronger when both are willing to understand mistakes and
forgive each other.

xii. Assertiveness: Assertiveness is the ability to stand up for yourself and your rights, while also
respecting the rights and opinions of others. It is therefore crucial in a relationship, both to
maintain your sense of personal identity, and also for the relationship to thrive and be
healthy.

xiii. Negotiation: This involves working with others to find a mutually agreeable outcome. In
a negotiation, each person gets something in exchange for giving something their partner
wants. In compromise, neither partner actually gets what they want. They often settle on
 some middle ground between two ends of an issue, with the result that neither is satisfied
with the solution.

xiv. Problem solving skill: This involves working with others to identify, define and solve
problems. It requires a lot of emotional intelligence.
xv. Decision making skill: This involves exploring and analyzing options to make sound
decisions. It requires a lot of analytical skills.

INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUP RELATIONSHIP

Peer group relationship is easily the largest network of inter-personal relationship that exists in our
communities. This type of relationship comes with both positive and negative influences.

POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUPING

1. Quick understanding of language and speech development.

2. Spirit of team work.
3. Social development and integration.
4. Physical development.
5. Learning leadership and followership qualities.
6. Getting to know how to receive information.
7. Learning values of positive competition.
8. Learning life coping creative skills.

NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUPING

1. Disruptive influence of telling lies.

2. Drug abuse.
3. Sexual immorality.
4. Cult membership.
5. Examination malpractices.
6. Alcoholism.
7. Get rich quick syndrome.
8. Stealing.

EVALUATION

1. Identify five other skills that promote inter-personal relationship not given in the note.
2. Explain ten positive values or skill that promotes inter-personal relationship.
3. Discuss any five negative influence of peer grouping in the society
TOPIC: INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP

Learning goals: At the end of the lessons the student should be able to:

 Explain the meaning of inter-communal relationships

 State the importance of inter-communal relationships

WHAT IS INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP?

This can be defined as the interactions that exist between and amongst communities. It comes in
forms of trades, sharing of human and materials, security ties and many more. Communities at both
local and international levels relate with one another at economic, political, and socio-cultural levels.
No community can exist and survive in isolation. Every community has her area of strength which is
referred to as Comparative Advantage. It thus, specialises in that area and depends on other
neighbouring communities for things it does not or cannot produce.

We have different levels of inter-communal relationship and they include:

RURAL LEVEL: social, cultural, economic and political interactions within and outside rural
communities.

URBAN LEVEL: Social, cultural, economic and political interactions within and outside urban
communities.
NATIONAL LEVEL: Inter-relationship between nations and international communities.

IMPORTANCE OF INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP

1. It promotes development: when good relationship exists between two people, groups or
nations. The benefit makes way for better understanding, and infrastructural development.

2. It promotes peaceful co-existence: Good neighbourliness, de-escalation of conflicts and

peaceful co-existence are products of inter-communal relationship.
3. Healthy Inter-communal Relationship Stimulates Human Development: When educational
institutions produce well educated graduates, they enter the labour market and ensure food
security with their skills.

4. Security of life and property will be Guaranteed: When the three arms of government work in
synergy (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary), they ensure that the affairs of the state are
pursued with vigour. The executive will complement while the legislature will make laws and
the judiciary will bring offenders to book.

5. Stimulus and Satisfaction: These two factors are very important in every environment.
Individual members when stimulated produce the best in them. Satisfaction on the end goes
on to reinforce repetition of actions that are rewarding and growth and development become
sustained.
 6. Business Activities will spring up: Good inter-communal relationship creates room for
constant change.

7. Inter-communal relationship allows for the inter-change of culture, norms, food, dressing
style etc among community members.

EVALUATION

1. Explain inter-communal relationship

2. What are(5) benefits of inter-communal relationship?
3. Do you agree that foreign investors will be attracted into areas where inter-
communal human relationship is cordial and friendly?

REFERENCE:
1. https://classhall.com/lesson/the-meaning-and-importance-of-inter-communal-relationship/
TOPIC: SKILLS FOR RESOLVING INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICTS

Learning goals: At the end of the lesson the student should be able to:

1. Define inter-communal conflicts.

2. Explain the different skills involved in resolving inter-communal conflicts.

INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICT
Inter-communal conflict is any kind of conflict that arises as a result of breakdown in inter-
communal relationship. In Nigeria, examples of such conflicts abound.

 Nigeria – Biafra war 1967-1970.

 Book Haram insurgency against  Tiv – Junkun ethnic clashes

the Nigerian state.

 Rwandan genocide 2004 arising

 Herdsmen – Farmers clashes and from Hutu-Tutsi conflict.
their attendant killings.

 Ife - Modakeke clashes

 Niger Delta militancy against the  Boundary dispute clashes
Nigerian state. especially between Cross-River
state communities and their
Benue state counterparts.
 Uruku – Umuode clashes in Nkanu
East LGA Enugu state etc.

 IPOB separatist movement

against the Nigerian state.
 SKILLS FOR RESOLVING INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICTS

1. Dialogue: This normally involves a situation where highly respected and trusted personality/
personalities serve as peacemakers in a conflict situation. They sit with the conflicting or
warring parties to negotiate solutions and peace after each party has stated its case. The
Federal government of Nigeria employed this in solving the problem of militancy in the Niger
Delta.

2. Mediation: This is a process where a neutral third party (mediator) intervenes in a conflict and
works with those involved to negotiate a favourable outcome. It is therefore a dynamic,
structured, interactive process where an impartial third party assists disputing parties in
resolving a conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.
All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process.

The then Ghana military head of state General Ankra attempted to use this method to
negotiate peace between Ojokwu’s Eastern Nigerian government and Gowon led Federal
government of Nigeria and avoid what latter turned out to be a fratricidal war in Nigeria.
3. Conciliation: This is an alternative dispute resolution process whereby the parties to a dispute
use a conciliator, who meets with the parties both separately and together in an attempt to
resolve their differences. Wikipedia.

Unlike the mediator who merely assists the parties throughout the mediation process to help
them find a solution to their dispute by themselves, the conciliator has an active role in the
conciliation process (e.g. he can propose a solution to end the conflict).

4. Grass-root community based activities: such as new yam festivals, marriage ceremonies,
sports fiesta etc, could be used to disabuse the minds of those in conflict.

5. Good governance: This involves the administration of a state in a progressive way. While good
governance can help resolve conflicts it is even more effective as a preventive mechanism to
make sure that conflicts do not arise in the first place.

6. Compensation: This is the payment in cash or kind made to aggrieved people or persons to
alleviate their loss or condition. This can be a good skill for inter-communal conflict resolution.
The Yaradua led Federal government of Nigeria applied it successfully in resolving the issue of
militancy in the Niger Delta.
EVALUATION:

1. The continued clash between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria is a typical example of
inter-communal conflicts. Discuss five practical ways the problem can be solved.

TOPIC: HUMAN RIGHT: MEANING AND BASIC CHAEACTERISTICS

Learning goals: At the end of the lessons the student should be able to:

 State the meaning of human right

 Explain Basic characteristics of human rights.

WHAT IS HUMAN RIGHT?

Human rights are inalienable/undeniable natural rights/entitlements which are essential to human
existence and which every human being/individual needs to attain his/her full potentials in life.

The realisation of these rights and the protection of same has become one of the most topical issues
in the world today.

The concept of human rights originated from an English Philosopher - John Locke. In his book
Natural Rights he opined that every individual is endowed at birth with certain rights by virtue of his
status and dignity as a human being which cannot be denied him by any state.

In 1948, the United Nations Organisation adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) at its convention in Paris-FRANCE. Thereafter, it encouraged member states to domesticate
the provisions of the charter to make it more effective.
Consequently, most of these rights are contained in chapters 2 and 4 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Of particular interest to us here are those contained in chapter 4
covering sections 33-45 of CFRN 1999 as amended.

They include

1. Right to life
2. Right to dignity of human person
3. Right to personal liberty
4. Right to fair hearing
5. Right to private life
6. Right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion
7. Right to freedom of expression
8. Right to freedom of association
9. Right to freedom of movement
10. Right to freedom from discrimination
11. Right to own property
12. Right against compulsory takeover of
one’s property

Any person who alleges that any of these rights has been, is being, or likely to be contravened in any State in
relation to him may apply to a High Court in that State for redress.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Universality: This means that all human beings are entitled to enjoy human rights
irrespective of where they come from or live.

2. Inalienability: this means that human right cannot be taken away from or denied an
individual.

3. Indivisibility: This means that human rights are not capable of being divided. Thus it cannot
be enjoyed or guaranteed in half measure.

4. Interdependence: This means that the fulfilment or exercise of one right cannot be gotten
without the realization of the other human rights. (Interrelated).

5. Inherent: This means that human rights are considered to be natural and are necessary part
of human existence.

6. Fundamental: Human rights are basic and essential for human existence and all individuals
are entitled to them.

7. Relativity: This means that the rights of individuals co-exist and complement each other. The
right of one begins where that of another stops.

8. Human rights are lawful: This means that human rights are legal rights and their violation
will be protected by the law through the courts.

9. Equal and non-discriminatory: This means that all human beings are equal in the application
of their human rights and no person should be exempted from its application. However the
law applies to the lowly is how it should apply to the V.I.P.

ASSIGNMENT: (11TH GRADE CIVIC)

1. What is Universal Declaration of Human Right?

2. Highlight four core rights or freedom in Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
 3. What does it mean for Human Rights to be: Fundamental, Universal, Inalienable, Lawful
and Indivisible?

TOPIC: CATEGORIES/CHALLANGES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Learning goals: At the end of the lessons the student should be able to:

 List different types/ classifications of human rights

 Explain challenges of human rights

TYPES/CATEGORIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Social and Economic Right

 Right to work and earn just remuneration:
 Right to reasonable limitation of working hours
 Right to trade unionism
 Right to peaceful assembly: This right is guaranteed in Section 40 of CFRN ’99.
 Right to Education:
 Right to health, shelter, food and social care
 Right to property: This right is guaranteed in Sections 43 & 44 of CFRN ’99.

2. Political Rights
 Right to vote and be voted for:
 Right to join any political party of one’s choice: This right is guaranteed in Section 40 of
CFRN ’99.
 Right to association & peaceful assembly: This right is guaranteed in Section 40 of CFRN ’99.
 Right to freedom of Speech: This right is guaranteed in Section 39 of CFRN ’99.

3. Civil Rights
 Right to life, security and privacy: These rights are guaranteed in Sections 33 & 37 of CFRN
’99.
 Freedom of Speech: This right is guaranteed in Section 39 of CFRN ’99.
 Freedom of movement: This right is guaranteed in Section 41 of CFRN ’99.
 Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion:
 Right to fair hearing: This right is guaranteed in Section 36 of CFRN ’99.
 Right to personal liberty: This right is guaranteed in Section 35 of CFRN ’99.
 Right to dignity of the human person: This right is guaranteed in Section 34 of CFRN ’99.
 4. Cultural rights
The UDHR lists cultural rights in Articles 27 and 28:
 The right to participate freely in the cultural life of the community,
 The right to share in scientific advancement and
 The right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific,
literary or artistic production of which one is the author (Intellectual property right).

CHALLENGES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Human Right as an indispensable attribute of life is faced with plethora of challenges such as:
i. Poverty: Poverty is the biggest challenge against human right across the globe. More the
half of the world 6 billion people are extremely poor. Because of extreme poverty most
people whose rights are abused cannot seek redress because they cannot afford to cost of
filling court processes or hiring lawyers to defend them in courts of law.

ii. Ignorance: There are today legions of right groups that seek to sensitise the public on right
issue. There are also ones that take up right infringement cases pro bono. Again numerous
national and international legislation, treaties and protocols on right protection abound.
Ordinarily, a combination of such legal regime and right activism should have completely
addressed right issues across the globe. However, what all these give in one hand, ignorance
takes away with the other hand. Thus the world is rife today of innumerable unresolved
right abuse cases due largely to ignorance.

iii. Proliferation of weapon of mass international outcry. The proliferation

destruction: The first nuclear weapon of weapon of mass destruction is a
was tested in a desert of New Mexico direct threat to life and human
on July 16, 1945. Since them many existence. It has largely been the
more have followed amidst cause of many avoidable wars and
 conflicts in the world that have
resulted to the killing of millions of
people. The Rwandan genocide is a
typical example.

iv. Drug trafficking and abuse: The production of opium, heroin, cocaine and other substances
is on the rise. Like weapons of mass destruction, these silent destroys of mankind have killed
millions and rendered even more numbers of people insane.

v. Deterioration in the ecological environment: Gas emission from industries all over the
world is causing rising in sea level and it also causes flooding. Deforestation on the other
hand is synonymous with cutting oxygen supply to man.

vi. Attitude of government: Some governments across the globe exhibit crass ignorance about
right issues. Even where there are sufficient legislations on human right protections such
governments because of their tendency to non-democratic values violate citizen’s right with
impunity. We have seen cases in Nigeria where citizens have incarcerated in prison custody
against the clear orders of courts of law granting them bail from such custody. Such
government actions are in violations of Sections 35 and 36 of CFRN ’99 as amended; which
specifically guarantees citizens’ right to personal liberty and fair hearing.
Assignment:

1. List four different classifications of Human Rights.

2. Discuss four challenges of Human Rights in Nigeria and the world at large

TOPIC: PUBLIC SERVICE: MEANING, FUNCTIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

Learning Goals: Students should be able to;

 Explain the meaning of public service

 Highlight the duties/functions of the public service
 List the characteristics and classifications of the public service

DEFINITIONS AND MEANINGS

Public service refers to numerous administrative institutions within the executive arm of
government through which government day to day operations are carried out. It includes the
ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) and other officials that provide essential services for
the citizens of the country.

Public service can also be seen as the totality of administrative structures within which the work of
government is carried out.

Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja National Communication Commission Abuja

DUTIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

 Formulation of policies: The management cadre of the civil or public service help in the
formulation of policies which are eventually executed as government policies.
 Implementation of government policies: Civil servants not only formulate policies; at any time
government adopts a policy or programme the burden of executing such policies and
programmes are borne by public servants. For instance the federal government formulated
policies on COVID-19 protocols but the implementation of such protocols are being handled by
public servants from the Ministry of Health, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Law
enforcement agents and numerous other public servants in different MDAs and public
corporations.

 Drafting of Bills: Majority of the bills that get passed into law originate as executive bills. Legal
experts in the public service especially legal officers with the Ministry of Justice help
government in drafting such bills in line with best practices.

 Keeping of government records and property: They keep proper records of all government
activities, decisions and property. All MDAs keep records. However, the primary agency of
government with the responsibility of keeping government records is the National Archives.

NIGERIAN NATIONAL ARCHIVES - ENUGU

 Revenue Mobilization: They assist the government to generate funds through the collection of
taxes paid by citizens and corporate organisations, fines from courts, and duties paid by
exporters and importers. Such departments like the Federal Inland Revenue Services – FIRS and
Custom and Excise play critical role in this direction.
 Advice to the ministers/commissioners: Top civil servants such as Permanent Secretaries,
Directors and Assistant Directors acts as advisers to the ministers or commissioners in charge
of their ministry who are oftentimes political appointees.

 Preparation of Budget: They help in the planning of annual budget and estimates of
government ministries, departments and agencies. In fact, the facts and figures that actually
make up the budget estimates of government every year is generated by the various MDAs.

 Manage Government’s foreign relations: The need for good diplomatic relationship with other
countries. For this reason the government has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its numerous
Embassies, High Commissions and consular offices scattered all over the world to help it
manage this rather complex and dynamic relationship. The present minister in charge of that
ministry is Barr. Geoffrey Onyeama.
 Mr Onyeama and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo

 Public Enlightenment: The civil service

helps to explain governmental policies
to the members of the public especially
through the mass media to enable the
people to appreciate government
policies and programme. Whereas this is
a function performed by all MDAs,
however, it is a primary responsibility of
the Ministry of Information and all
government media organ under it such
as FRCN, NTA, VON, BON etc.
RADIO HOUSE ABUJA: Houses FRCN and Ministry of
Information
CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC SERVICE

1. PERMANENCE: The civil service is a permanent institution of government that is not affected
by any change in government.

2. NEUTRALITY: This is a feature that states that civil servants are not expected to be partisan
in politics. In other words, they are not to support any political course or party and should
serve whatever ruling party with utmost loyalty.

3. ANONYMITY: Every civil servant must not divulge secrets or speak to the press on official
matters. Also they do not take glory or blame for whatever happens. All such praise and
blames are to be ascribed to the minister. As such public servants cannot be held
responsible for their legal actions in the line of duty. It is the minister that takes all praise
and blame.

4. IMPARTIALITY: Every civil servant must be fair and prepared to serve everybody and every
government that comes to power.

5. EXPERTISE: Recruitment and promotion in the civil service is based on professionalism and
merit. Thus the civil service is supposed to be made up of experts and professionals in
various fields of human endeavour.

6. BUREAUCRACY: It means the rigid and strict adherence to established rules and regulations
of the civil service. Otherwise known as Red-Tapism; it is a major character of the public
service that stifles creativity and makes service delivery difficult.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE

 Administrative class: These are the top echelon of the public service such as the permanent
secretaries, directors, and principal secretaries/managers. Others are heads of educational
institutions, heath-care institutions and research institutes. Their primary responsibility is
formulation of policies for their various services and for the government. The personnel at this
level are made up of persons promoted from the executive and professional class. However, a
graduate with a doctorate degree can be employed directly into this cadre.

 Executive class: These are the executive officers in the public service such as Administrative
officers, research officers, planning officers, information officers, protocol officers etc. They are
normally university and polytechnic graduates responsible for the day to day execution of
government business within their offices.

 Professional class: These are technocrats or professionals who specialise in accountancy,

architect, statistics, nurses, law, medicine etc and are rendering such services in the public
 service. They have coordinate qualification as the Executive cadre but their entry point grade is
one level above the Executive cadre.

 Clerical class: This class is made up junior officers such as typists, clerical assistance etc. the
required educational qualification into this class is O’ level school certificate (secondary school
certificate) or its equivalent. Oftentimes they are merely seen as support staff.

 Auxiliary/manipulative class: This is made up of other support personnel that perform

functions that enable other officers in the performance of their duties. They include
messengers, drivers, security guards, cooks etc. The basic academic qualification for entry in
this cadre is First School Leaving Certificate. Sometimes too, educational attainment may not
be required for some positions in this cadre.
TOPIC: PUBLIC SERVICE: PROBLEMS & WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE

Learning Goals: Students should be able to;

 Outline the reasons for the problems in public service

 Discuss ways of improving the public service in Nigeria

REASONS FOR THE SHORT COMING IN CIVIL SERVICE

1. LACK OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL: The Nigerian civil service has over-bloated staff strength.
However, most of these personnel are not fit and proper persons for the job they are
assigned due to lack of requisite academic and technical qualifications.

2. INSUFFICIENT AND POOR WORKING TOOLS: Non availability of working tools or at best poor
and outdated tools, arising from poor funding, negatively impacts on the productivity of the
service. Many public service offices still operate with outdated typewriter and stenographic
machines instead of computers and photocopying machines.

3. POOR CONDITIONS OF SERVICE: This include poor salaries, irregular payment of salaries and
lack of motivational incentives; all of which work against maximum productivity of
personnel.

4. CORRUPTION/EMBEZZLEMENT: This manifests in the form of diversion of fund meant for

government project, inflation of contract sum for pecuniary interest, creation and payment
of ghost workers and outright stealing of public fund etc.

5. LACK OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Most public servants lack opportunity for in-service training,
re-training and professional development thereby failing to improve their skills for better
service delivery.

6. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: This mostly manifest in the form of inconsistency of government

policies. Elected and non-elected government officers like senators and ministers often
interfere with the operations of the service thereby making it partisan.

7. MILITARY INTERVENTION: Military takeover truncates democratic rule in the country and
this happened many times in the country and went a long way in disorienting the public
service culture especially as it has to do with appointment, promotion and tenure of public
service officers.

8. NEPOTISM AND TRIBALISM: The public service has been bedevilled with nepotism and
tribalism to the extent that recruitment, deployment, promotion and other benefits are
based on ones relationship with the government and leadership of the service. Again this
was heightened with military intervention in politics.
 9. GOD FATHERISM: This is now the order of the day in Nigerian public service. Merit is no
longer a parameter for posting and promotion but it is now based on who brought you into
the service.

10. NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TO WORK BY PUBLIC SERVANTS: Most public service workers/staff
regard their work as government job that need no commitment and dedication.

11. BUREAUCRACY/RED TAPISM: This refers to rigid rules and regulations that guide the public
service which sometimes demand that a matter which ordinarily can be handled in one table
or office should move from table to table and from office to office before it can be finally
handled. This brings about unnecessary delays in the discharge of government business and
is a bad one for civil service. Again it stifles creativity and innovation on the part of
personnel.

12. QUOTA SYSTEM: In a bid to narrow down the backwardness of some sections of the country
the government enacted the Federal character law on appointment and admissions into
federal offices and institutions. Better known as quota system; this is more or less an official
seal on enthronement of mediocrity and incompetence.

WAYS OF IMPROVING THE PUBLIC SERVICE

 Refreshers courses and training programmes: There is need to send public service officers on
refresher courses and training. This will help bring them in line with modern ideas of service
delivery; the type that drives progress in the private sector or the market place.

 Teaching of political education in schools: It is important we achieve value re-orientation in

the public service and change the negative attitude of the personnel of the public service. The
best way to achieve this is to incorporate the teaching of political education in schools. Good
news is that government is trying its best in this regard through curriculum development.

 Improvement of the physical work environment: This coupled with the provision of
appropriate modern work tools will revolutionize the way the public service delivers on its
mandate. A greater employment of modern technology in the physical working environment
and in the work effort would help to achieve this.

 Proper remuneration: A better salary regime and other motivational incentive have a way of
bringing about greater productivity. An adequate salary paid to a worker helps to remove some
of the impediments making it difficult for him to deliver such as family pressure.

 The removal of obsolete and rigid rules and regulations from an outdated Civil Service Act: So
many public service rules are so obsolete that they only serve the purpose of creating
bureaucratic bottlenecks in service delivery. The removal of such rules would bring about more
efficient and timely delivery of service as well as greater innovation in the service.
  Appropriate reward for diligence: One of the engine-room of success in the market place is
reward for diligence, commitment and dedication that produces result. If the same tool is
applied appropriately in the public service it would produce the same result.

 Post service plan for employees: Having a good retirement plan that would really take care of
a retired public service officer would go a long way in motivating such an officer to give the
work his or her best. For instance, it should be a law in this country for a retired officer to
continue to enjoy the same medical care available to serving officers. Always leaving them to
their fate at the time they need medical care most is great lack of incentive that may affect the
psychology of the workers when they are still in service.

 Stiffer penalty for in-service corruption: Corruption is the bane of the public service today.
Two reasons account for it: poor remuneration and lenient penalty for offenders. If therefore
the penalty against offenders are made stiffer with measures like criminal conviction by courts
of law with long years of prison sentence and life disbarment from seeking political office, the
trend would automatically change.

 The use of Code of Conduct Bureau and Public Complaint Commission (ombudsman): The use
of these two government agencies can effectively check so many issues in the public service
such as corruption nepotism and ill-treatment of workers by their superiors. However, these
bodies have lost credibility having since become willing tools in the hands of political office
holders who use them to settle scores with their political opponents. The case of former senate
president, Dr Olusola Saraki is fresh in the mind.

EVALUATION:

1. What is public service?

2. List five characteristics of the public service.
3. Identify the various classification of the public service.
4. Highlight five ways of improving public service in Nigeria
5. Suggest five ways of improving public service in Nigeria.
TOPIC: PUBLIC COMPLAINT COMMISSION

Learning Goals: At the end of the lesson the students should be able to:

 The meaning of public compliant commission

 Reasons for establishing the commission

MEANING OF PUBLIC COMPLAINT COMMISSION

The Public Complaint Commission (Ombudsman) is the institution established by government to

entertain from citizens’ complaints of injustice, corruption, unfair treatment and abuse of office by
public officers. The commission is to investigate such cases and to recommend steps towards
discipline or correction of the situation.

DUTIES OF PUBLIC COMPLAINT COMMISSION

a. Receives grievances and complaints from people against the public servants
b. Institute investigations into such allegations of complaints, corruption, bribery, nepotism or
favouritism against public servants
c. Investigating cases of incompetence and the use of false documents etc.
d. Order for arrest and prosecution of public officers who are found wanting on the law
e. Observe transparent political leadership

LIMITATIONS OF THE POWERS OF THE OMBUDSMAN

1. The commission cannot enforce its decisions and recommendations

EVALUATION

1. What is ombudsman
2. Discuss any five functions of public complaint commission

REFERENCES
• Ozoude, Catherine (2012). Principles of Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools 2.
Raymond Publishers: Enugu. pp.42-63.

• Ukegbu, Merry N., Mezieobi Ken, Faskari, A.L, Adebayo, S.A., Obasi Emma, and Anyaoha
Christy N. (2014). Basic Civic Education for Senior Secondary School 2. Meybiks Nigeria
Publishers: Owerri.

• Wikipedia.

• https://classhall.com/lesson/the-meaning-and-importance-of-inter-communal-relationship/