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Federal character principle and its implication on manpower utilization

(A Case Study Of An Analysis Of Recruitment Exercise At The Federal Capital Development Authority (Fcda) Abuja)

5 Chapters
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103 Pages
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12,866 Words

The Federal Character Principle, enshrined in the constitution of many countries including Nigeria, embodies the idea of ensuring equitable representation and distribution of opportunities across diverse ethnic, religious, and regional groups within the public sector. This principle, aimed at fostering national unity and cohesion, mandates that appointments to public offices, recruitment into the civil service, and allocation of resources should reflect the country’s diverse demographic makeup. The implication of this principle on manpower utilization is profound, as it requires organizations to consider demographic diversity in their workforce planning and management strategies. Consequently, organizations must navigate the complexities of balancing merit-based recruitment and promotion with the imperative of ensuring fair representation of different social groups. Adherence to the Federal Character Principle often involves implementing quotas, affirmative action policies, and diversity initiatives to address historical imbalances and promote inclusivity. While this approach fosters social justice and inclusiveness, it can also present challenges such as potential conflicts between meritocracy and representation, as well as concerns regarding efficiency and effectiveness in manpower deployment. Therefore, effective implementation of the Federal Character Principle requires a nuanced approach that balances the imperatives of diversity, meritocracy, and organizational effectiveness in manpower utilization.

ABSTRACT

This research project examined the Federal Character Principle and its implication on Manpower Utilization with the emphasis on Recruitment process at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). In view of the above, the researcher investigated how public recruitment is carried out and how the Federal Character Principle is plied in all public organization.
The research methodology used, consist of simple random sampling technique, both primary and secondary source of data collection were used. Questionnaires were administered to some of the staff of FCDA, hypothesis were formulated and tested with the use of chi-square to assess the implication of Federal Character Principle on Manpower utilization with emphasis on recruitment process in their organization (FCDA). Finally recommendations were made on the way forward in actualizing an effective and useful application of the federal character principle in the federal capital development authority (FCDA) and the Civil/Public service at large.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page
Approval Page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of Problems
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Statement of Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitations of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
Reference

CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Ethnic Violence Historical Perspective
2.3 Ethnic Chauvinism and the Nigeria Federalism
2.4 Federal Character Principle
2.5 Federal Character Commission
2.5.1 Composition and Power of the Commission
2.5.2 Examination of Power of the Commission
2.5.3 Guiding Principle of the Commission
2.5.4 The Enforcement of the Commission
2.5.5 Tenure of Office and Independence of the Commission
2.6 Manpower Utilization and Effective Administration
2.6.1 Effective Administration
2.7 The Department of an Organization
2.7.1 Departmental Organization in Nigeria
2.7.2 The Political Head
2.7.3 The Ministry Secretariat and the AttachedOffices
2.7.4 The Attached Offices
2.7.5 Features of a Government Department
2.8 Area of Study
2.8.1 Creation of Federal Capital DevelopmentAuthority (FCDA)
2.8.2 The Establishment of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)
2.8.3 The Management of the Federal CapitalDevelopment Authority
Reference

CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Design and Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Sources/Methods of Data Collection
3.4 Population and Sample Size
3.5 Sample Technique
3.6 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument
3.7 Methods of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data Presentation and Analysis
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Presentation of Data
4.3 Analysis of Research Variables
4.4 Test of Hypotheses
4.5 Interpretation of Result (s)

CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary of Findings
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
References
Appendix I Letter of Respondent
Appendix II Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is a constructed state; the country is the product of a conglomeration of ethnic groups, which are heterogeneous in many respects. This according to Agbodike (2006) includes the diversity of pluralism of language, religion, social-political and economic formation as well as administrative styles, social norms and personality types. In effort to address these issues and also ensures structural balance of claims and gains by various groups and interests, the government formulated and put into use the federal character principle which is aimed at ensuring a peaceful, united, stable, prosperous and integrated Nigeria.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Today, in Nigeria the use of federal character principle has became an instrument for recruitment into federal, state and local government civil service. In most federal system of government, the major issue is usually that of resources sharing among the federal units at horizontal and vertical level.
According to Elaigwu (2006) where the sharing arrangement are working well, there are less agitation and citizens have a filling of belonging and equity. On the other hand, where the sharing principles is not working well, the citizens agitates and makes all sorts of demands such as call for national conference etc. however in Nigeria, after a service of debate in 1975 the constitutional drafting committee was set up which established federal character commission as a body charge with the responsibility of implementing the federal character principle in order to ensure equitable sharing of posts in the public service. This was also enshrines in the 1999 federal constitution of federal republic of Nigeria. The Federal character as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria is to ensure equitable distributions of bureaucratic and political posts in the public service of federal, state and local government levels. The objectives of the policy are to foster national unity and give every Nigeria a sense of belonging among other in the country. The federal character principle which is implemented under the federal character commission is therefore designed, initiated to correct adverse in act resulting from opportunities and resources provided by the federal government to the citizens of the country that appears neutral but have a discriminatory effect on a protected group. The federal character principle is therefore empowered to ensure strong and indivisible nation based on justice and fairness, while also ensuring that the sense of belong if all Nigerian is still maintained. As laudable as the above policy may be, and the empowerments of the concept in the nations constitution, its application has remain a debatable topic to which some critics have claimed that the policy comprise the merit system which will create and enabling environment for those that are only qualify employed into the Nigeria Civil Service. However, this research work is centered on the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) as the case study. The Federal Capital Authority is responsible for the general administration of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and its environment. The selection of manpower potentials into the administration of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja based on the Federal character commission been the commission established to implement Federal Character principle in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There is no doubt that every research work must have statement of problem to which this research work is not exception. There are many cases going on in Nigeria that the federal character principle has been unjustly implemented. Also the annual repeat form the publication of the federal character commission shows that a lot of compliant arises as a result of breach of federal character principles by some establishments, for example in the federal character monitor, of quarterly publication of the commission (2008:5) accused and surmount the Nigeria Communication Commission over breach of federal character principle, more so the inefficient implementation of the policy in recruiting manpower potentials into the organization and the selection of employees not based on the federal character principles are some of the problems that affect the efficient performance of the Nigeria civil services. Furthermore, the Niger Delta crisis which arises as a result of compliant from the masses about marginalization by the leaders also signifies that the policy is unjustly implemented. Again, the poor performance of employee’s discovered by the past president Olusegun Obasanjo led administration was traced to poor manpower utilization and poor qualify of civil servants, also testing to this weakness. Thus, in view of the above problems, the needs to analyze recruitment process in government establishment are strategic and must be followed accordingly.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the research topic are as follows:
i. To examine the extent to which federal character principles is strictly adhered to in the utilization of human potentials at FCDA.
ii. To determine the duties of the commission in charge of federal character principles.
iii. To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the federal character principles in the recruitment of needed manpower of FCDA.
iv. To find out provable problems if any in the execution of the federal character principle as applied in this recruitment of manpower of FCDA.
v. To examine the implication of federal character principles on recruitment exercises at FCDA.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
The research questions are as follows:
i. To what extent is the federal character principles strictly adhere to in the utilization of human potentials at FCDA?
ii. What are the duties of the Federal Character commission?
iii. How efficient is the federal principle in the recruitment of the needed manpower at FCDA?
iv. What are the probable problems if any in the execution of the federal character principles in the recruitment of manpower at FCDA?
v. What are the implications of federal character principles on recruitment exercise at FCDA?

1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothesis will be tested
Hypothesis One:
H0: The application of federal character principles affects the quality of manpower utilization at FCDA.
H1: The application of federal character principles does not affect the quality of manpower utilization at FCDA.
Hypothesis Two
H1: There is a relationship between the application of federal character principle and merit system of in recruitment exercise at FCDA.
H0: There is no relationship between the application of federal character principle and merit system of in recruitment exercise at FCDA.
Hypothesis Three
H0: The application of Federal character principle in recruitment process in public enterprise has not solved the problem of unequal representation of all states across the country.
H1: The application of Federal character principle in recruitment process in public enterprise has solved the problem of unequal representation of all states across the country.

1.6 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The important of this research work cannot be over emphasized. However, this study intends to examine the application of federal character principle in recruitment exercise of the FCDA and assess the commission in charge of application of the federal character principle in the Nigeria Civil Service, also the study examines and review the implication of federal character principle on manpower utilization in public service at federal states and local government in Nigeria. Therefore, this research work meant to assist both undergraduate and graduate of social science and other future researches who may find this work beneficial in terms of planning, researching and rational decision making in regards to recruitment into public organization in Nigeria.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research project focuses on the analysis of recruitment exercise of public servant at federal capital development authority (FCDA) based on federal character principle. Thus, this research work will be incomplete in analyzing the utilization of manpower capability at the FCDA without assessing the process of training, selection, motivation, compensation and evaluation. The work is centered on FCDA as a chosen case of study for the project work. FCDA has it employee’s recruited from all states of the federation based on the federal character principle been an organization that belong to the federal government. Federal capital Development Authority (FCDA) was established in 1990. Thus, this study focuses on the date of the establishment till date.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Though the study concentrates on Federal Character Principle and its Implication on Manpower Utilization and recruitment of Federal Capital Development but its scope limited due to inadequate time and fund for the period of the study.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Some of the key terms in this research work are defined as follows:
Federal Character Principle: A principle of representativeness in which recruitment, promotion and distribution of other state resource are aimed at establishing a fair balance of ethnic and regional representation in all Federal Government Agencies and parastatals.
Federal Character Commission: Federal Character Commission is a body charged with the responsibility of implementing federal character principle in Nigeria to ensure compliance with state objectives concerning the distribution of public officers and even basis among various sections of Nigeria in all Federal Government Agencies and parastatals. The Federal character commission (FCC) is a federal executive body established by Act No 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the Federal character principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructural among the various federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Merit System: Burbank (2010), sees merit system as the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. Human Resources Management: Human Resources Management is a process that relates to the training education and other professional initiatives in order to increase the level of knowledge, skills, abilities, values and social assets of an employee which lead to the employee’s satisfaction and performance and eventually lead to higher productivity in the organization (Michael Armstrong 2009). Public Recruitment: Public recruitment is defines as the process involves seeking and attracting in supply of people from which qualified candidates for job vacancies can be chosen. The magnitude of an organization’s recruiting efforts depends on the result of the personal planning process.
Public Service: According to 1999 constitution, public service is define as the service of the state in any capacity in respect of the government of state and includes service as:
a. Clerk of the House of Assembly
b. Member of staff of High court, the Sharia Court of Appeal, the customary court of appeal or other established for a state by this constitution or by a law of house of assembly.
c. Member or staff of any commission or authority established for the state by this constitution etc.
Manpower Utilization: This refers to effective utilization of manpower capability available through the process of motivation, training, rewarding, evaluating etc in the organization.
FCDA: Federal Capital Development Authority.

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Federal character principle and its implication on manpower utilization

The Federal Character Principle is a concept primarily associated with Nigeria’s government and public administration. It is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, specifically in Chapter II, Section 14(3), which states:

“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

In essence, the Federal Character Principle is designed to promote diversity and representation in Nigeria’s government and public institutions to prevent any one ethnic, regional, or sectional group from dominating these institutions. It has several implications for manpower utilization in Nigeria:

Ethnic and Regional Balance: The principle requires that appointments and recruitments into government positions and public institutions should be made in a way that ensures a fair representation of different ethnic groups and regions across the country. This means that efforts are made to ensure that no single ethnic or regional group dominates the civil service or other public institutions.

Promotion of National Unity: The Federal Character Principle aims to foster national unity by giving all ethnic groups and regions a sense of inclusion and participation in the governance and administration of the country. This can contribute to social cohesion and reduce the potential for ethnic or regional tensions.

Equitable Distribution of Resources: The principle extends beyond just manpower utilization. It also applies to the distribution of resources, such as federal projects, development programs, and infrastructure. Government resources are expected to be distributed equitably across different regions to promote balanced development.

Challenges of Implementation: While the Federal Character Principle is well-intentioned, its implementation has faced challenges over the years. Critics argue that it can lead to inefficiency and compromise meritocracy in government appointments and public institutions. In some cases, individuals may be appointed or hired based on their ethnicity or region rather than their qualifications or competence.

Affirmative Action: The principle has led to the development of affirmative action policies in Nigeria, such as quota systems in educational institutions and employment. These policies are designed to ensure that underrepresented groups have opportunities for education and employment in government and public institutions.

In summary, the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria is intended to promote diversity, equitable representation, and national unity in government and public institutions. While it aims to address historical imbalances and tensions, its implementation has been a subject of debate, with concerns about its impact on meritocracy and efficiency.