Re-inventing Nigeria's Public Sector: A Review of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

Abstract

Public  Over the years, the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s public sector has been a subject of debate. However, in recent time, the organizational performance and service delivery of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have been a success story. Within the framework of New Public Management (NPM) theory, the study investigates the secrete behind the degree of success achieved by NAFDAC with the aim of recommending such to other public sector organizations in Nigeria which has over the year’s demonstrated lack of zeal for service delivery. The study relied heavily on primary and secondary data. Yamani’s formula for sample size determination was used to select a sample of 133 employees from NAFDAC Lagos office out of a total of 200. Weighted mean and chi-square statistical tools was used to determine the independence or otherwise of the variables under investigation. It is the position of the study that NPM has enhanced NAFDAC’s performance and service delivery. It concludes that since the traditional public administration theories has failed to deliver the much needed public goods and services, it is therefore imperative to reinvent Nigeria’s public sector in line with (NPM) international best practices so as to reposition the Nigerian public sector for the challenges of a modern and rapidly changing world. However, while change is desirable, we feel there is need to exercise caution on account of the peculiar nature and character of the Nigerian state and society. Reinventing the country’s public sector should progress slowly and wisely.