Motivation and Ethics: Essential Factors for Sustainable Public Service Delivery in Nigeria

Adewusi, Adedeji Oluwaseun

Department of Sociology, Olabisi Onabanjo University

Abstract: The issue of accountability and transparency in the Nigerian public service has been a topical one thus subjected to various scholarly discourses. Despite the material and human resources at her disposal, service delivery in the country has been below public expectations. This paper is two-fold. It set to: examine the issues affecting public service delivery; and demonstrate how motivation can enhance ethical behaviours among public servants towards ensuring sustainable public service delivery. Psychological Egoism, Needs and Reinforcement theory were utilized as theoretical basis in the study. This was a secondary data based research that utilized evidences from relevant literatures including Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from year 2000 to 2014, thus analysed through content analysis. The paper found out among other things that certain Human resource, political and institutional factors has led to the erosion of ethics by public servants. This adversely affects public service delivery in Nigeria. It is expected that in order for public servants to adhere to the code of conduct of their respective offices, there is need to motivate them and set up a body that rewards good behaviour and/or punish bad behaviour. By doing this, sanity, better and equitable service delivery will be achieved.

Keywords: Ethics, Motivation, Nigeria, Public Service, Service Delivery