Human Capital Development and Service Delivery in Nigeria’s Public Service: The Role of Administrative Staff College of Nigeria

Abstract

Reforms in the Nigerian Public Service have aimed to overcome challenges of ineffectiveness
and inefficiency in service delivery. Among these reforms, the establishment of training
institutions was highlighted by the Public Service Review Commission of 1974, leading to the
creation of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), a premier training institute for
the public service. Despite such efforts, challenges in service delivery continue to be a concern.
This study explores the impact of Human Capital Development (HCD) programmes on service
delivery within Nigeria’s Public Service, focusing on the efficacy of these programs in
addressing persisting inefficiencies. Adopting a case study approach, this research integrated
quantitative and qualitative techniques, including surveys and document analysis. Quantitative
results highlighted a weak, yet statistically significant, positive relationship between the
Relevance of Content of Curriculum (RCC) and Benefits from the course attended (BC)
(r=0.012, p<0.05). Conversely, a weak, non-significant negative association was found between
Utilization of Knowledge (UK) and Participation in Training (PT) (r= -0.003, p>0.05).
Qualitatively, while some progress has been evident in certain domains, persistent challenges,
such as limited funding, policy inconsistencies, and a lack of alignment between training
initiatives and public service requirements, were identified. This study recommends key reforms
for ASCON to enhance Nigeria's Public Service delivery: implementing a structured feedback
system for quality assurance, revitalizing training programs to meet current inefficiencies,
integrating tailored project management techniques, aligning with contemporary technological
trends, and fostering public-private partnerships for better facilities management.