WEEK 4: SS2 GOVERNMENT: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Definition: The civil service commission is a body set up by the constitution to manage the affairs of the civil servants. The 1979 constitution established the commission in both the federal and state level. COMPOSITION: The commission is made of chairman and not more than nine members appointed by the president at the federal level, while at the state there is a chairman plus not more than four members. All appointments must be approved by the National assembly or state assembly.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Recruitment: It is the duty of the commission to recruit ,select and appoint civil servant. Promotion: It promotes the civil servants and move them to the next grade level. Discipline: It has the power to dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over any civil servant. Evaluation: It monitors, appraises and evaluates the performance of ministries and departments Defines the conditions of service of civil servants. Advice: Advises the government in areas of appointment. Training: It encourages training and retraining of civil servant through seminars, workshops and conferences. Retirement: It retires the civil servants that have reached the stipulated retirement age.

HOW TO MAKE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION EFFICIENT Independence: The commission should be independent, the government should respect the constitutional provision establishing it. Federal character: The appointment of the member of the commission must be based on federal character. Members of the commission must be people of high integrity and sound judgment Security of Tenure: Members of the commission must have security of tenure e.g.5yrs.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOP CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICAL CLASS Top civil servant comprises of permanent secretary, director general,directors,deputy directors, assistant directors, head of departments and other high rank officers. The political class is made of ministers/commissioners, board chairman and members. The civil servant are employees of the ministry while the ministers and the board are political appointees and they coordinate the activities of the ministry Policy making: Civil servants think out the best way of doing the work in the course of policy formulation---The minister may reject or accept such proposal. Experience/Expertise: The civil servants are experienced and knowledgeable in their area while the minister knows little or nothing about the ministry

ASSIGNMENT Define the term civil service commission. Explain six functions of the commission. Identify four ways of improving the efficiency of the commission References: New approach in Government by Oyediran et al pg111-116 Modern government for senior sec. school by Echefu S.pg74-78 Essential Government by cc Dibie pg122-124