A critique of the bureaucratic theory: the Nigerian civil service experience

Abstract

This paper presents a critique of the bureaucratic theory: The Nigerian Civil Service experience. The descriptive research approach was adopted for the study and the questionnaire instrument was used in data collection. Descriptive statistic was used in data analysis while multiple regression analysis was used in the test of hypotheses. It was discovered that hierarchical arrangement of staff significantly influence the Nigerian Civil Service and led to delays in decision making in the civil service. Further findings revealed that management by formal rule does not influences the Nigerian Civil Service. However, too many rules hinders employee’s ability in response to turbulent environment. This situation make workers fixated and the bureaucratic nature of the civil service hardly creates room for change, hence high resistance to change. It was recommended that thorough and coherent reforms which will enshrine adequate institutionalization of Weberian ideal tenets of bureaucracy should be carried out in the civil service and attempt should be made to adopt the flat structure rather than the pinnacle hierarchical arrangement in order to enhance decision making and communication flow in the civil service.

Keywords: Bureaucratic Theory; Nigerian Civil Service