DISCIPLINE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF ENUGU STATE. A CASE STUDY OF MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, ENUGU
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
With the emergence of modern state and development of the parliamentary system of government, the civil service or public service has evolved as the bed-rock of the executive arm of government. Its main task has been the implementation or execution of government policies and programmes.
In addition, it is also responsible for the management of the machinery of government and carrying out daily duties that public administration demands. The public service administration is made up of ministries or parastatals or extra-ministerial departments.
There has been an impairment of discipline in the public service that the traditional role of policy implementation has become affected adversely. The civil service commission which is the body responsible for the effective maintenance of discipline hardly can perform this task these days (Adebayo, 1994:199).
According to Ani, (1991:10), a good number of our Public servants believe that the public service belongs to our then colonial masters and as such they throw discipline in the service to the winds. Under such condition of indiscipline, productivity in the service in adversely affected.
In the words of Ciroma, (1985:5), the high rate of cases of indiscipline in the service has rendered the public service an Adhoc affair instead of a permanent future of our modern government and administration.
The rules and regulations are given various interpretation to suit certain perceptions and to achieve selfish motives.
Adebayo, (1994:180) believes that the high degree of indiscipline in the public service had give rise to (god fatherism) nepotism, favourism and inefficiency in the service. He went further to trace the cause to the attitude of our political leadership.
The views of Adebayo have gone to give credence to the fact that even public servants themselves no longer trust their colleagues. Appointments, promotions and even benefits have been offered to under public servants against the laid down civil service rules.
Worse still the public themselves (the tax payers) no longer have confidence on the civil servants and the necessary co-operation the public would have offered has been withdrawn. The net effect is that entire system is suffering and even getting to a total collapse.
Statement of the problem
    The civil service has remained the bed-rock of modern government for the realisation of goals and objectives in order words; it has remained as a very veritable instrument to sell government programmes to the public and to achieve concrete result in order to improve on the lives or welfare of the populace. Unfortunately the public service has been bedevilled with misconduct.
    For an illustration the present day public servants have been guilty of dishonesty, drunkenness during official hours, false claim against government, falsification or suppression or cards, loitering, engaging in trade or business without authority, to mention but a few. Momoh, (1988:40).
    Adebayo, (1994:168), admitted that indiscipline in the service had given room for inefficiency among the public servants. He blamed both government and the public servants themselves for this disease which had eaten deep into the fabrics of the public service in Nigeria.
    Again, indiscipline in the public service has been used as major reasons to indict various governments in our country. Indeed, it has been responsible for the poor economy of our nation. For instance, the inflation of contract award by the civil servants, embezzlement of public fund, civil servants engage in political activities, they even go to the extent of disclosing unofficial information and so on and so forth. Nnawuba, (1996:15).
    It is point of fact that the civil service has a great role to play in the lives of both of the greatest administration of service is indiscipline. The researchers have therefore been compelled to carry out a study on discipline in the public service a case study of ministry of justice, Enugu.
Objective of the study
    The objectives of the study have been stated as follows:
i.    A critical book at discipline among civil servants in the ministry of justice, Enugu
ii.    The relationship between discipline in the service and the implementation of government policies.
iii.    Evaluation of the perception of the public on conduct of public servants in ministry of justice, Enugu
iv.    The extent the political leadership in Nigeria has contributed to the efficiency of public servants, and
v.    To find out factors that would promote discipline among public servants in ministry of justice, Enugu.
Significant of the study
    The study would be significant to the researcher as it would serve as a realization of a dream in the academic circle. Secondly it would be our colleagues, would like to have as insight into this work so that they can locate their knowledge of the topic of study.
    The study would also convey special meaning to the management of ministry of justice Enugu as it would use it to guard against indiscipline among its staff.
    The civil service commission would be another group that this study would be of significance.
    Finally, this study would be of significance to policy makers because issues bordering discipline would be looked into more carefully to discipline in the service.
Scope/Delimitation of the study
    This study has been a survey research with the ministry of justice, Enugu as the case study. The civil service commission, Enugu was involved in the study. In the same way all the workers participated. The research was descriptively analysis. Being a survey research, the centralization of the study and the target population from where the sample was drawn. The research covered areas that had similar environment and characteristics with the target population and that to a larger extent the validity and reliability of the instrument used were also touched.
Research Question
i.    How does discipline affect the performance of civil service in ministry of justice, Enugu
ii.    What factors affected discipline in ministry of justice, Enugu state.
iii.    How can discipline be maintained in ministry of justice Enugu state
iv.    What measures do you suggest to be taken that would promote discipline in ministry of justice, Enugu state?
The research defined some terms used in the study and they are as follows;
Definition of Terms/acronyms
Civil Service:    An organisation set up by government to see to the implementation of government programmes and implementation of government programmes. It comprises of the executive and other servants who are grouped according to their respective ministries (Adebayo, 1994:01).
Civil Service Commission: This is the Enugu state civil service commission.
Public Service: It denotes government organization entrusted with the implementation of government policies.
Civil Service Rules: A book where all the guiding rules and regulation of the service are contained.
Circulars: Letters from government which explains or given out guide lines on certain procedures and changes in the service. It is used to update the civil servants on some current changes and modification in the rules and regulations.