From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
The Rivers state Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, has stressed the need for discipline in public service.
Prof Ebeku emphasised that civil servants should acquaint themselves with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, urging that public servants being the engine room of government should be disciplined and professional.
Professor Ebeku made the observation while reviewing a book entitled “A Handbook on Discipline of Civil Servants in Nigeria” and authored by the Rivers State Head of Civil Service, Mr Rufus N. Godwins.
He agreed with the author that indiscipline, including corruption and malingering, was responsible for the decay in the Nigerian civil service.
Ebeku during the review stated that the handbook, a compendium of Laws and Rules applicable to civil servants in Nigeria will be handy and useful for all civil servants in Nigeria and urged that all civil servants and other public officers and others to buy a copy.
He said: “The Author has the qualification and experience to write this book. In every office he served, he left an indelible impact. He brought his enormous experience to serve.
“The book I am reviewing today, elaborates on the DOs and DON’Ts in civil service, the disciplinary procedure and associated matters. It explained that whichever organization you belong to it of very important that you acquint yourself with the rules guiding the activities and operations of the organization”.
According to Professor Ebeku, the book which is organised into five chapters, was well researched and well-written in simple prose.
“The book is organised in five chapters: chapter 1 deals with the history of civil service in Nigeria. Chapter 2 discuss the important of career and appointment for civil servants. The high point of the book will be found in chapter 3 which considered the code of discipline in the civil service. The issue of redress for persons aggrieved by the disciplinary action is examined in chapter 4. The last, chapter 5 considered the perception of labour leaders on opinion leaders on matters of discipline”.
He further stated that the book must be regarded as an important addition to the literature on civil servants in Nigeria, and stands out as the first book on civil servants discipline written by a Nigerian lawyer.
