Misconduct Reporting and Query Management as Performance Tool in the Nigerian Public Service

Abstract

Query remains the most effective corrective measure in the public sector for monitoring
employee wrongdoing, as it aims to enhance performance and service delivery. Without a doubt,
the query method has become ineffective in Nigerian public service and there is glaring lack of
scholarly research in this area. This study aims to identify the reasons behind the ineffectiveness
of query procedures in Nigerian public services and to propose constructive measures to address
the issue. Through this research, we hope to contribute to the development of more efficient and
fair processes that can enhance the overall performance of public services in Nigeria. To better
understand the reasons why the power of query has diminished in the Nigerian public service, we
utilized the McGregor theory as a theoretical framework and reviewed current literature on
public misconduct. We found that certain factors have contributed to the decline in the use of
query, including employee collusion, a weak institutional framework, a weak corporate
governance mechanism, nepotism, and demonization. By identifying these factors, we can create
a more constructive and effective approach to addressing the issue of public misconduct in
Nigeria. This study suggests that senior officers must use the threat of harsh punishment to
correct misbehaving subordinates without fear or favor by drawing on the reasoning from
Douglas McGregor's Theory of X.