Representative Bureaucracy and Social Equity in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzed the connection between representative bureaucracy and social equity in Nigeria by examining potential inclinations, perceived fairness, and efficacy. Representative bureaucracy suggests that the demographic attributes of public servants, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, can influence their decision making and policy outcomes, ultimately impacting social equity. Hence, the role of representative bureaucracy in promoting or hindering social equity cannot be overemphasized. Drawing on the existing literatures and empirical research, this study aims to address certain normative questions: (1) concerns about conformity to federal character principle in recruitments, (2) the effectiveness of the Federal Character Commission in ensuring balanced representation, and (3) the efficacy of representative bureaucracy in promoting social equity. The findings reveal a complex and nuanced relationship between the two variables and emphasize the importance of understanding the role of representative bureaucracy in enhancing social equity and its potential for promoting justice, fairness and democratic ideals. While some positive outcomes can be identified through the Federal Character practices on targeted recruitments, challenges persist. Factors such as political patronage, nepotism, indigeneity clause and corruption often undermine the potential of the representative bureaucracy to deliver equitable outcomes. This paper offers recommendations on the need to foster merit-based recruitment and promotion practices, enhancing diversity training, and culturally sensitive programmes as well as expunge the indigeneity clause from the constitution.  This critical analysis contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of the representative bureaucracy and its implications for social equity.