SOURCES OF ETHICS IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

SOURCES OF ETHICS IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

Ø The ethics which are applicable to the Nigerian public service are drawn from a host of sources. There is no specific volume from where they were obtained

Ø Their origin is traceable to a couple of colonial as well as traditional experiences Nigerian society.

Ø While these ethics are designed to feature global best practices just like most post-colonial states (Nigerian being a British post-colony), they are as well designed to reflect the traditional and domestic values and heritage of the Nigerian cultural, religious, social and legal atmosphere. Scholars have argued that the major challenge of implementation of ethics bears from this dilemma. While applying and implementing corporate ethics, there comes the challenge of balancing these two differing perspectives of ethical life.

We shall consider the following sources of ethics in Nigerian public service

Legal Sources

Ø The constitution of the country is the grand norm of every other law. Every principle of corporate existence emanates from it.

Ø CE is an extension of the state’s constitution. Any principle in CE that is inconsistent with the law of the country is rendered null and void.

Ø Apart from the constitution, CE is derived from other legal documents that applies to individual professions, carriers and disciplines such Nigerian Universities Commission (for lecturers), NMDC (for medical doctors), etc.

Ø Civil Service Codes provides specific guidelines for staff regulation which applies to every other organization owned by the government. The ethical standards that operate in any organization are borrowed from these CS codes.

Ø Acts and legislations made by the National Assembly or State Houses of Assembly can influence CE. Such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Anti-Open Grazing Act, etc. These can introduce new methods or alter subsisting methods, principles and practices in CE.

Social Sources

Ø Every society is founded on certain social beliefs which they hold so dear. These are called value systems. These beliefs are sacrosanct and define the acceptability or otherwise of persons living in such society.

Ø CE is not meant to exist in the space. It must marry with these core values and belief systems in order to be accepted.

Ø If not, such ethical standards will be kicked out such as the Anti-Lesbianism Gay Bi-Sexual and Transgender Act, 2014. The Act kicked off the series of agitation by gay rights movements to request public acceptance which is of course contrary to our social values.

Ø Such beliefs in Africa that elders should be respected applies too in the public service. Officers tend to respect their seniors and offer them a standing ovation. In most cases, better office spaces and privileges are accorded to senior staff in organizations.

Ø These practices and more as captured in CE are extrapolated from the social beliefs of Africans.

Ø The quota system for instance which applies specifically in Nigeria is founded on the belief that “all fingers are not equal” so, let us accommodate the weak.

Religious Sources

Ø Ethics is meant to reflect, protect and harmonize the religious identities of the people. Where there is sacredness, ethics protects it. Where there are discrepancies, ethics harmonizes. Where there is emphasis, ethics reflects it.

Ø For instance, all religions approve of the need to cover our private parts. It is a religious and sacred instruction. Even though dress code is not contained in the Nigeria’s constitution, it is still held as a doctrine in organizations.

Ø CE reflects the religious undertakings of the people such as respect for human life, feebleness of women etc.

Ø CE harmonizes religious disputes which may arise from conflicting religious principles such as can be seen in heterogeneous societies.

Culture and Tradition

Ø The culture of a people hold very strong can influence their daily lives. Such cultures also determine how they coordinate themselves in the organization and what rules they make.

Ø The Igbo culture of Ibuanyidanda reflects in every aspect of their lives. They believe in brotherhood. This has so reflected in the CE of most establishments such that there is room for recommendation of staff.