The Weberian Bureaucratic Principles and Nigerian Public Bureaucracy: An Evaluation

The o~jective of this paper is to highlight and rein/(m.:e the indispensability of the Weberian bureaucratic principles to the effective functioning of public sector organisation. IJieher's theoretisation on bureaucracy had Sl!ffered numerous danwging criticisms from scholars: howe, 'e'~ the conlribulions remoin unassailable. Using this model as benchmark. the paper allempted an evaluative excursion of the Nigerian Public Sel'l'ice ond examined the extent of conformity with the principles in prac!ice. The paper observed that the search for efficiency in the .Viger ian public bureaucracy has been a very tall task 11 ·ith one ref'orm committee replacing the other from 193-1 to date. The noticeable features of the various reform efforts via their reports ore allempls a/ organizational/institutional development and meosures targeted at enhancing managerial capacity. Weber's characteri::ation (legal rational authority) of bureaucracy underscores lhe essence ofihese reform initiatives and it also constitutes thefit!crwn oft he Nigerian public bureaucracy. The paper recommended among others, the objective implementation ofmeasures aimed at improving efficiency in the public service, zeroing- in on entrenching meril11'hile seeking to preserve federal character in appointments and pmmot ions