Manpower Development and Productivity in the Local Government System
The public service of the local government is a vital component in the
development process of a country. Duties and responsibilities should be
assumed by employees capable of the job. Efficiently supervising the flow of
work is essential in monitoring the progress within the organization.
Basically, effective management is the key in a harmonious and
productive organization. Competent managers and trained employees are the
foundation of every enterprise, whether in private or public sector. However, the
productivity of government agencies is hurdled due to dilemmas and
mismanagement in the human resources.
The effort of the Nigerian State in manpower development has been
encompassing to be viewed in conceptual and methodological perspectives.
Manpower development is the propelling force for national growth in terms of
political maturity and socio-economic development. However, it is important to
note that manpower development in Nigeria has not been yet reached its full
potential due to factors circling in the local government. The process of human
resource development was distorted by colonialism tending to be a semblance in
negative orientation in political leadership. It is completely wrongly viewed by the
people as an elitist design in favoring capital mode of production rather than
public service. Disputes do not only slow the production of the local government
but aggregates the whole system of economy as well. It is indeed imperative to
educate the employees on the relevance of manpower development in pushing
the national interest.
The concept of manpower development is the existence of skilled and
unskilled workers who needs training and re-training for a specified job.
Manpower development is basically the specification and recognition of function
of every employee in an organization. It could also be viewed as the adaptation
of a certain nation in the available human resource.
Nigerian educational system is the based on manpower development. The
educational system which is heavily anchored on 6-3-3-4 system is made to
address the manpower need that is necessary in alleviating the current
developing state of the country. This educational policy is emphasizing the
training process of the human resources in meeting the specific needs of the
industries and private sector. Appropriate training will lead to competent
workforce that would be a major key in national progress.
Whether in private sector or local government, manpower development
has a progressing development in the organization. Moreover, there are certain
methods in executing manpower development.
One method of manpower development is the orientation. It is an integral
part of recruitment process once a prospective competent employee is found. It
focuses on job specification and occupational remuneration that could increase
motivation and eventually his production and performance as well. It also
involves informal discussion about the social interaction within the workplace.
Another manpower development method is the apprenticeship. It involves
acquisition of skills and knowledge through extensive practice of the job by
means of being a trainee to a senior employee. It just not develops abilities but
the attitude as well like humility.
Committee method involves employees working as a group in decision
making and solving posing problems. It is aimed at developing managerial
functions and the ability to collaborate with other people’s ideas.
But, despite the effectiveness of manpower development in the progress
of any organization, there are still problems in its emergence in Nigeria.
The major problem of Nigerian employees is the colonial experience. The
distorted view of manpower development as economic exploitation results in
arguments within an enterprise particularly in the local government. People tend
to oppose the manpower development because the post-colonial Nigerian State
inadequately addresses the labor issues and problems.
Poor political leadership and poor manpower planning also largely
contributes to its failing because there is no funding in educating the people both
in urban and rural areas.
What’s imperative in implementing successful manpower development is
when the regulatory capability of the government in enforcing manpower policies
is enhanced. Manpower development should be indiscriminate of gender, class
and ethnic affiliation. But, the more important thing to do by the government is to
be continually persevering in promoting manpower development particularly in
the local government for the better success of the organization and the country
as a whole. Well-crafted policies should be made and adoption of manpower
development in every enterprise should be commanded.
It is persuasive to progress in national development. But, it can’t be done if
people would still be working not under one goal but with different views.
References:
Errero, John and Olu Okotoni, Manpower Training and Development in the Nigerian Public Service, January 2005
www.krepublishers.com
www.unn.edu.ng
www.itf-nigeria.com
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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