Explicating Ethical Challenges Facing Nigerian Public Administration

Abstract

The paper focuses on assessing the challenge of ethical crisis in the Nigerian public service. It observes that ethical problems emanated from the hierarchical structure of the public service, lack of political will to combat it, low social values and pressure mounted on public officials for inducement. It further noticed that despite promulgation of laws and establishment of legal and administrative institutions to handle unethical attitude, it has continued unabated. Unethical behaviours have resulted in high cost of governance through diversion of funds into private hands, over-invoicing and inflation of contracts and creation of corrupt bureaucrats. The paper concludes that through public enlightenment, staff development, and strong internal and external monitoring systems in the public service, unethical challenges will be overcome.