Manpower Development and Productivity in the Local Government System

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

 

 

 

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