X-RAYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUREAUCRACY

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between bureaucracy and good governance in Nigeria. The main objectives of the study were to ascertain if there is any nexus between bureaucracy and good governance, examine the roles that has or should be played by bureaucracy for Nigerians to benefit from good government, and determine the challenges faced by bureaucracy in promoting good governance in Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive research design which described the existing status of what is being investigated. The data collected were presented in a tabular form with focus on the major research questions which enabled the researcher determine the results. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage analysis

The findings from the study revealed that bureaucracy is a vital element of the development process and an engine room for good governance and the success of government rests as much on the way the bureaucracy functions, an efficient and neutral bureaucracy is a sine-qua-non to a healthy democratic system and good governance and bureaucracy had significant role to play in the administration of government whether autocratic or democratic and a good bureaucracy is a critical independent variable for establishing a capable government, the structural problem facing bureaucracy in Nigeria is personnel regulation and personnel qualification and organizational structure are part of the challenges faced by bureaucracy in promoting good governance in Nigeria, and that the high level of corruption associated with bureaucracy in Nigeria has hampered its role in promoting good governance. The study further recommended that if the civil service is to attain the desired results of good governance in Nigeria, far reaching reforms are needed, such as, recruitment and promotion of civil servants should be based on merit system as opposed to spoils system. This is because the enthronement of federal character principle of recruitment and other spoils system have sacrificed efficiency and effectiveness in the Nigerian public service, while rules and regulations are sine qua non for systematic and orderly government, there is a need for the mental attitudes and believes of the civil servants to be reoriented, so that they can cope with the policies of new government, there is need for strong political elites, who are able to articulate political goals and to establish and maintain a framework of both political and legal institutions.