ASSESSMENT OF SERVICE COMPACT (SERVICOM) ON PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN SELECTED FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITALS IN NIGERIA

BACKGROUND OF STUDY: The Nigeria public service is a vital government institution consisting of the staff of the central administrations, state administrations, the police and the Nigerian Armed forces among others of the nation. The public service refers to all organizations that exist as part of the federal government system responsible for the implementation of policy decisions and delivery of social services (Tamuno, 2004). According to Adamolekun (1991), the public service in Nigeria is made up of the following: the civil service, which is often referred to as the core service. It is composed of ministries, extra ministerial agencies and directorates; the public bureaucracy, which is composed of the enlarged public service, is including: Services to the states and national assemblies; the judiciary; the armed forces; the police and other security agencies. There are also the paramilitary services like immigrations, customs, prisons, civil defence, National Drug Law and Road Safety among others. In the parastatals and agencies including social service, commercial oriented agencies, regulatory agencies, educational institutions, teaching hospitals and research institutes among others. The public service with its long history is indicative of its phenomenal growth in response to the development needs of Nigerian societies over the years. Members of the public service compared with members of parliament are not limited to a short term of office at the end of which they may or may not be reelected into office. Rather, while elected members of parliament of public office holders come and go, public servants remain in the office (Fagbemi, 1987).

It is imperative to note, according to Coleman (1982) that the civil service structure was borrowed from the west minister model with its characteristics of impartiality, anonymity and political neutrality. Being a major instrument of government to achieving its socio-economic and political objectives, its duty consist of assisting in policy formulation by advising the political boss, implementing, monitoring and evaluating decided policies; and also provide continuity in administration of such periods when there was disruption of political direction or abrupt change in the government of Nigeria. Evidently also, the influence of the British system of administration remains very prominent on the Nigerian Public Service system and it has contributed to the shaping of the present bureaucratic setting.

Nevertheless, the Nigeria public service has greatly deviated from the inherited British system of administration that is noted for prompt and efficient service delivery while administering the Nigerian state. An argument many scholars like Badmus (2012), Igwilo (2012) and Alalade (2006) noted was due to improper learning, crave for wealth, poverty and insincerity on the part of the technocrat who collect the instrument of administration from the British. A failure that has constituted impediments to effective implementation of government policies; and thereby culminating into dwindling standard of service provided by government institutions. In the current situation, Ezeani (2006) noted that the damaging effects on the amount of trust the people have in the ability of the government has become a problem. Nigerians are well aware of the unpleasant manifestations of the appalling standard of service delivery in the country. Under the popular caption of the ‘Nigerian way’ many Nigerians have grown accustomed to regarding public service as something you battle for; and you cannot succeed unless you know someone inside the system (King, 1988). The Nigerian Public Service has degenerated into the present circumstances of poor service delivery in government agencies, when public servants, if they serve you at all, do so as a favour, or at a price (Gboyega, 1996). Only few Nigerians expect to get routine acknowledgement of letters written to public offices, let alone getting attention for telephone enquiries; also few Nigerians will apply for service without budgeting time and money to follow their applications from desk to desk. With this attitude, the public servants cannot allow the system to become efficient, where the criteria for efficiency are based on satisfaction of the citizens.

To this end, Ezeani (2006) observed that the vicious circle for one to get through the inefficient system, one has to part with money, officials who operate that system, make sure it stays this way and inefficient. The poor service has become so ingrained in the system that “the Nigerian way” seems congenital to the Nigerian society. Premised on these stated problematic underpins, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in year 2003, constituted a committee of experts headed by Dr. Wendy Thomas to help Nigeria do a diagnostic audit of the system, examine institutional environment for service delivery, reflect on people’s lives and experiences and draw a road map for a service delivery.