NOUN – POL 341: Public Administration in Nigeria

The “POL 341: Public Administration in Nigeria” course is a meticulously designed program offered by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). This three-credit unit course is compulsory for students studying political science and related programmes in the School of Arts and Social Sciences. The course is structured into 22 units across five modules, each focusing on different aspects of public administration in Nigeria.

The primary objective of this course is to acquaint students with the knowledge of public administration in Nigeria, including its foundational concepts, principles, practices, and challenges. It delves into topics such as the nature and scope of public administration, the intricacies of the Nigerian civil service, local government administration, the dynamics of public corporations, privatisation and commercialisation, urbanisation, and the complexities of urban governance and service delivery.

The course objectives are as follows:

• Discuss the foundational concepts and ideas of public administration.
• Delve into the scope and various approaches to the study of public administration.
• Explore the local government administration system in Nigeria.
• Examine the evolution and development of the civil service in Nigeria.
• Investigate the issues of planning and budgeting in the Nigerian civil service.
• Appraise privatisation and commercialisation policies in Nigeria.
• Examine the challenges and implications of urbanisation in Nigeria.

The course materials encompass a course guide, study units, assessments, and other pertinent resources such as newspapers, newsmagazines, academic journals, and internet facilities. Students are expected to thoroughly read the study units and actively participate in tutorials. University work usually has a final assessment that comprises tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and a final examination. The TMAs account for 30% of the total score, while the final examination contributes 70%.

Our tutorials are designed for self-paced learning, students are encouraged to establish a study schedule, adhere to it, review the objectives for each study unit, and adequately prepare for the final examination. Facilitators or tutors are available to offer guidance, mark and provide feedback on assignments, and conduct tutorials.

The course is divided into five modules, each containing several units.

Module 1: Introduction to the Study of Public Administration

Unit 1: Introduction to the study of public administration
Unit 2: Nature and scope of public administration
Unit 3: Approaches to the study of public administration
Unit 4: Principles of public administration
Unit 5: Private and public administration

Module 2: Ecology of the Nigerian Public Administration

Unit 1: Evolution of public administration in Nigeria
Unit 2: Ecology of the Nigerian public administration
Unit 3: The Nigerian civil service
Unit 4: Public service reforms in Nigeria
Unit 5: Planning and budgeting in the Nigerian civil service

Module 3: Local Government Administration in Nigeria

Unit 1: The study of local government
Unit 2: Evolution of the Nigerian local government
Unit 3: Local government reforms in Eastern, Western, and Northern Nigeria – 1950s
Unit 4: The 1976 local government reforms in Nigeria
Unit 5: Local government in Nigeria since 1984

Module 4: Public Corporations, Privatisation, and Commercialisation

Unit 1: Public corporations in Nigeria
Unit 2: Privatisation and commercialisation
Unit 3: Problems of privatisation and commercialisation in Nigeria
Unit 4: Public-private partnership

Module 5: Urban Administration in Nigeria

Unit 1: Urbanisation – Definitions and the Process
Unit 2: Challenges of urbanisation in Nigeria
Unit 3: Urban governance and service delivery in Nigeria

Please note that this course operates autonomously and is not officially connected to, or in affiliation with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Our material is a supplemental tutorial curated by subject matter experts to assist in addressing the study challenges faced by NOUN Students. We advise students to adhere to the University recommended textbooks for this course, which we also referenced throughout this course.

We are committed to regularly updating the courses with the most recent developments, if any. We eagerly anticipate your participation in this enlightening and transformative program.

Referenced Materials
Course Code: POL 341
Course Title: Public Administration in Nigeria
And Other External Resources