SURMOUNTING THE CHALLENGES OF THE APPLICATION OF MERIT SYSTEM IN HUMAN RESOURCES PROCUREMENT IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE
Abstract
This paper examined merit system principles and the challenges associated with its application in human resource procurement in the Nigerian public service. It viewed merit system as a system in which a position is occupied or promotion is earned on the basis of competence rather than other criteria such as political “connection”, favoritism, nepotism, bribery and corruption among others. It reviewed existing literatures on merit system and the paper through the use of secondary data adopted equity theory to analyze the importance of merit system in human resource recruitment. The study identifies federal character principle, job racketeering, client-patron relationship, ethnicity, among others, as some of the hindrances to the entrenchment of merit system in human resource procurement. It recommended the implementation of federal character principle in consistence with merit system as well as the creation of merit compliance department, criminalization of non-merit based employment among others in human resource procurement and administration in the Nigeria public service.
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