Public Service and Citizenship – SS2 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Civil servants are the permanent staff who work in government ministries and keep government work going when Presidents, Governors and Senators leave office. The Civil Service is one part of the wider Public Service, which also includes the Army, the Police and teachers. Citizens support the civil service by paying taxes, reporting wrongdoing and obeying the law.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain the difference between the Civil Service and the Public Service.
2. State the four characteristics of the Civil Service.
3. Describe the roles and duties of civil servants.
4. Identify the challenges facing the Civil Service in Nigeria.
5. Explain how a good citizen helps the civil service to work better.

Who are the civil servants?

When we talk about the government, we usually think of the President, Governors or Senators. But these people come and go every four years.

The people who stay in the office to make sure the work continues are the Civil Servants. They are the “engine room” of the country. Whether it is a clerk at the local government office, a director in the Ministry of Education, or a secretary in the Ministry of Health, they are all part of the Civil Service.

Note: The Civil Service is just one part of the Public Service. Public Service is broader (it includes the Army, Police and teachers), but the Civil Service refers specifically to those working in the government Ministries.

What are the characteristics of the Civil Service?

To keep the country running smoothly, civil servants must follow these rules:

1. Permanence: Presidents leave, but the civil service stays. It is a career for life until retirement.
2. Neutrality: A civil servant is not supposed to be a “party man.” Whether APC or PDP is in power, the civil servant must do their job professionally.
3. Anonymity: They work “behind the scenes.” They do not take credit for success, and they are not blamed publicly for failure: the Minister takes the heat.
4. Impartiality: They are supposed to treat every Nigerian the same way, regardless of tribe or religion.

What are the roles and duties of the Civil Service?

Civil servants carry out the following duties:

• Advice to politicians: The Ministers are often politicians, not experts. The civil servants (especially the Permanent Secretaries) provide the facts and data the Minister needs to make decisions.
• Implementing policy: If the government says “We want to give free books to all students,” the civil servants are the ones who buy the books, count them and send them to your school.
• Preparing the budget: They help calculate how much money the ministry will need for the year.
• Keeping records: They are the “memory” of the government. They keep files, letters and documents that have existed since before you were born.
• Making rules (delegated legislation): Sometimes the big law from the National Assembly does not cover small details. Civil servants write the small rules (by-laws) to fill in the gaps.

What challenges does the Civil Service face in Nigeria?

Things do not always work perfectly. These challenges explain why the “engine” sometimes struggles:

• Political interference: Sometimes, politicians force civil servants to hire their relatives or give contracts to their friends.
• Corruption: This is the “big elephant in the room.” Bribery and “settlements” can make the service slow and unfair.
• Poor training and tools: Many offices still use old typewriters or do not have stable electricity and internet. It is hard to work in 2026 with 1980s tools.
• Bureaucracy (red tape): There are too many “files” to sign. To get one simple thing done, you might need 10 signatures. This makes everything slow.
• Poor salary: When people are not paid enough to take care of their families, they might lose interest in the job or be tempted to take bribes.

How can a citizen help the Civil Service?

Citizenship comes with responsibilities. A good citizen helps the civil service work better by:

• Paying taxes: That is where the money for salaries comes from.
• Reporting wrongdoing: If a civil servant asks for a bribe, a good citizen should report it.
• Obeying the law: This makes the job of the government much easier.

Revision table

Class activity

Divide the class into two groups. Group A should defend why civil servants should be allowed to join political parties, and Group B should argue why they must remain neutral. The class then decides which group argued better.

Evaluation

1. Who are civil servants?
2. Explain the difference between the Civil Service and the Public Service.
3. State and explain any three characteristics of the Civil Service.
4. List four duties of civil servants.
5. Mention three challenges facing the Civil Service in Nigeria.

Assignment

Explain three ways a good citizen can help the civil service work better, and state two challenges that make the civil service slow or unfair.