Civil Service Commission

The civil service commission is a body independent of the civil service established by the government to administer the civil service. It is an office with members holding offices based on good behavior and is entrusted with the duty of recruiting, promoting and punishing civil servants. The commission is separated from partisan politics, and is made up of full time chairman, some full-time commissioners and some part-time commissioners.

The chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission is appointed by the president, while that of each state is appointed by the governor. Members should be people of proven integrity and good education.

Functions of the Civil Service Commission

1. Recruitment: It recruits highly qualified personnel into the civil service, based upon good educational qualifications and performance in competitive, written examinations and interviews.
2. Promotion: The civil service commission promotes competent and productive senior civil servants from one grade to another.
3. Transfer: It can transfer civil servants from one department to the other.
4. Discipline: The commission has disciplinary powers, like suspension or dismissal of erring civil servants.
5. Retirement: It is vested with the power of retiring civil servants and advising in the payment of their pension entitlements and allowances.
6. Advice: It offers advice to the government on the appointment of suitable individuals to fill some sensitive positions in public corporations and parastatals
7. Dismissal: the commission has the power to dismiss erring civil servants found acting contrary to the rules and regulations of the service.

The Public Complaints Commission (Ombudsman)

Ombudsman is a government institution established to examine complaints of inefficient administration, corruption and unjustified treatment by some public officials against citizens.

Ombudsman is also known as public Complaints Commission. It was introduced in Sweden in 1809.Britain, Finland, Denmark New-Zealand, Norway etc. also have the institution. In Nigeria, it was established in October, 1975.

Functions/Importance of Ombudsman

1.      Investigation: To investigate cases of maladministration reported against any public officer

2.      Protection of Human Rights: it helps citizens whose rights are violated to seek redress instead of going to court.

3.      To ensure that public officers and public authorities discharge their duties in compliance with the laws of the land.

4.      Listen and look into the grievances of  aggrieved citizens

5.      To investigate cases of incompetence, false document and inconsistency of civil servant.

6.      It is empowered to investigate any act of corruption, nepotism or bias

7.      It also investigate undesirable conditions and practices in public places like the prisons, hospitals etc.

8.      It protects and maximizes the rights or liberties of citizens.

Limitations of the Powers of Ombudsman

a.      No Power to Enforce: the body can only investigate and make recommendations to the appropriate authority. It lacks the power to enforce decisions.

b.     It cannot Investigate the Activities of  Top Officials in government:  it can only be involved in matters affecting officers of lower grades, but not ministers, Governors, and Director-Generals

c.      No Power to question: the commission has no power to challenge or change decisions of the courts when administered.

d.     National Security: the need to preserve and safeguard state security and vital national interest acts as a limitation on Ombudsman’s access to information and documents.