AN ASSESSMENT OF RETIREMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND ITS CHALLENGES

AN ASSESSMENT OF RETIREMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND ITS CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT

This research work is poised to look into the ‘’Issues and Challenges of Retirement of Civil Servant’’ (A case study of Kogi State Public Service) The research work is divided into five chapters with each chapter linking each other. The objectives of the research include: to investigate the issues and challenges in retirement as they affect civil servants in Kogi State. Two methods of data collection were used i.e. the primary and secondary sources of data and the data was analyzed using simple percentage method for easy understanding. The findings revealed that most civil servants are troubled and worried about retirement and because of that, old men who are due for retirement refuse to retire by cutting down their age. At the end of the research work, it was recommended that The Workers themselves should learn to plan before retirement so as to avoid the fear of retirement.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

No 102 of 1979 stipulate that officer is due for retirements with pension and gratuity after ten (10) years or thereafter for a period of not less than thirteen (13) years.

Despite the provision with regards to public services retirement, it is worth mentioning that the management of retirement in public service is not done in accordance to the provisions.

However, we have experience cases whereby civil servant are retired meritoriously without given their retirement benefits. In many cases or situations, the retired officer dies after some numbers of years before the benefits are paid.

This ugly situation has been the driving forces behind officer indulging in unethical conduct of falsifying rewards without hope of retirement benefits. The multiplier effect of this ugly trend is that some dead woods in service are not willing to led go for the young productive ones.

The order to curb this pathetic situation, it is very imperative that all efforts should be geared towards placing. The right machinery for the management of retirement benefits which is vital to eliminate the most prevail practice of falsification of records to remain in service endlessly.

More so, this research work intends to look at the issues involved in the management of retirement in the civil services with a view to recommending means and measured by which it can be improved.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Civil servants are expected to work together in harmony and in accordance with the interest of the study. Despite trips there are some problems encountered by civil services in Kogi State which can be categorically stated below:

1. Religious belief
2. Problem of ethnicity
3. Problem of tribalism
4. Inefficient performance of the civil servants
5. Lack of good posting of officers to their specialized areas
6. Falsification of documents to enable the officers continue in services.

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this research work includes the following:

1. To investigate the issues and challenges in retirement as they affect civil servants in Kogi State
2. To identify the contributing factors to the success or failure of retirement of civil servants in Kogi State
3. To know the response of Kogi State government in making retirements benefits a reality.
4. To identify the various types of retirement
5. To examines the factors that militate against retirement in Kogi State
6. To make suitable recommendations based on our findings in order to ameliorate the challenges facing civil services in Kogi State.

1.4  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.     Does lack of prompt payment of benefits after retirement have any impact on workers productivity?

ii.    Is the new pension reform an effective in Kogi State Public Service?

iii.    Are the workers sure of blissful life after retirement?

iv.    Does delay in payment of workers gratuity encourage their productivity?

v.    Do retirees have any serious relationship with the government?

vi.    Can mandatory retirement lead to sudden development?

1.5  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is very significant to the entire public service as it will reveal the challenges militating against retirement of civil service in Kogi State.

This research shall also be of great significant to public service in Kogi State or the entire country at large especially in the area of developing techniques and methods.

1.6  SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This research project is on the issues and challenges of retirement of civil servants and its scope is basically centred on Kogi State Public Service. The essence of limiting its scope to Kogi State is due to the fact that the researcher has no capacity financially and materially to research on Nigeria public Servant as a whole.

1.7  LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

In a study of this nature, one is expected to encounter series of hindrances which serve as a limiting factor to the research work.

1. Secret nature of respondents: In the course of under doing this research work, the researcher is faced with the problem of secrecy on the point of the respondents who refuse to disclose certain information’s that would have ensured a comprehensive research work.
2. Non-availability of research material: The researcher find it difficult to source for relevant materials for the research and this is attributed to the ill-equipped nature of the school library which would have be a veritable research tool.
3. Financial constraints: This also serve as the limiting factor to this research as the researcher have to time-to-time recharge his phone in order to put a call to some of the public servants in Kogi State to get useful information.
4. Time: The time frame for this research work is relatively too short considering the various academic activities that one have to attend to. Some times, the researcher have to abide on proposed for  lecture and researching for various assignment.

1.8  ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

              This project work comprise five chapters.

The first is the study foundation for the topic. It consist of introduction of the study and the problem facing public service in Kogi State.

The second chapter deals with literature review of the topic as well as defining some concepts and overview of some learned scholars in public services. The third chapter is the historical background of civil service in Kogi State in particular.

Chapter four examines all relevant data collected which undertaking the research project, data presentation in the tabular form and data analysis.

Finally, the fifth chapter seeks to summarize the finding of the research work in a conclusive way and then make an objective recommendations with respect to the concluding evidence  

1.  DEFINITION OF TERMS

The research considered it necessary to define the following terms as they are being applied within the context of the project work.

Commission: According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (6^th edition), commission means an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control or find out about person. For purpose of this work, it is a group of important officers chosen for a particular responsibility.

Retirement benefits: These are benefits paid to an officer on his exist from the service if he was appointed under permanent and pensionable circumstances.

Officers: It means a person employed into an established grade at the public service but do not include officers on temporary contract appointment.

Medical board: Medical board is appointed by commissioner or by any other person pursuant to a delegation of power under section 20 of decree No 102 of 1979 to assess the disbursement of benefit to an officer.

Next of kin: Is the person whose names are written by the diseased officer on his records officer of the Ministry of time established, or furnished by him in written at the time dealt to that ministry

Pensionable services: Means service which may be taken into account in computing an officers pension under this decree.

Final pay: Simply means in respect of an officer whose appointment has terminated or (if he was on daily pay rate of pay for thirty one days) multiply log is in respect of the last substantive rate held by him immediately before the end of this services.

Pensionable emolument: In the respect to an officer, it means the salary attached to the last substantive rank by the officer and do not include any allowance.

Transfer value: This is the accepted amount paid in discharge of pension liability in respect to an officer services.

Termination: It could means termination of service by retirement or been forceful retired.

Mandatory retirement:  It is the causation of service after an officer have served for a maximum of ten years.

Civil service: The term civil service is normally used when reforming to the body of those employed in a civil capacity and non-political career basis, by the three tiers of government primarily to render advice and faithfully give effective t their decision.