Public-Service Ethics and Accountability for Effective Service Delivery in Nigeria

Citizens expect public servants to be accountable and transparent in their actions. Public ethics and accountability are prerequisites to, and underpin, public trust. They are the cornerstones of good governance and development. In Nigeria, public trust in governance is low as a result of many challenges, principally the so-called Nigerian factor. Lack of transparency affects effective participation of citizens in the governing process. This article highlights the nature of Nigerian public service and draws out the challenges to the public-service delivery functions of government. It concludes that public servants should be ethical and accountable in the discharge of their duties for the betterment of the nation.