Dynamics of Public Administration

The public service exists to provide essential services to citizens, and it is crucial that these services are of good quality. Regular reform of the public service is necessary to achieve this goal. This paper examines the impact of the New Public Management movement on public service reforms in Nigeria’s fourth republic. In the 21st century, with the increasing wave of globalization and its effects on technology, no country can afford to operate in isolation from global developments, especially when the world has become a global village. The New Public Management Approach is prevalent in the administrative systems of virtually all countries worldwide and has influenced their public services. Nigeria, as one of these countries, has seen its public service affected by the New Public Management movement, as evidenced by some of the reforms implemented, particularly at the federal level. The purpose of these reforms in the public service is to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in delivering high-quality services that satisfy the citizens. This paper employs the secondary method of data collection, with data analysis conducted through a descriptive approach. The theoretical framework for this paper is the New Public Management theory. The paper reveals that some of the reforms initiated and adopted in the Nigerian public service have not yielded the desired results due to internal factors such as corruption, ethnic politics, political interests, inadequate power supply, and insufficient technology. The paper recommends, among other things, strengthening anti-corruption agencies to comprehensively address corrupt cases, ensuring appointments and operations in the public service are based on merit within the principle of federal character, and making efforts to improve power supply and the country’s technological infrastructure.