Civil Service Performance Dilemma and the Performance Management Imperative in Nigeria: A Study of Delta State

This study examines performance management practice in Nigeria, using the Delta sate civil service as a case study. The data used in this study were derived from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were derived from focus group discussions, while the secondary data were obtained from cognate textbooks, journals and government documents. The findings of the study revealed that there exists a poor performance management practice, poor employee performance largely due to the prevailing civil service environment typified by poor work culture and sense of competition and absence of performance management agenda. The study made some useful recommendations including the need for an enduring result-oriented and responsive Delta State civil service environment that is competitive in nature and a holistic and integrated performance management agenda Keywords: Civil Service, Performance Dilemma, Performance Managemen