CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Manpower development according to Branch (2000) is educational and development activities conducted by an enterprises to improve the lives of their workers. The activities have definite relationship to employment in human capital formation as a process which enable organization to acquire and increase their manpower stock, through the process of planning, recruitment, and training. Employer develop their staff and mobilize them in the attainment of organizational goals. Training is therefore an integral element in manpower development.

Cole (2001) viewed manpower development as being concerned with increasing knowledge and skills in doing a particular job. He went further to say that training is an attempt to improve the performance of employees through learning which is done by increasing their skills and knowledge.

According to Ekpo (2002) manpower development programmes are designed to educate employees beyond the requirement of their present job position so that they can be prepared for promotion and be able to face future challenges.

The importance of manpower development has long been recognized not only by individual and groups but also organizations and nations throughout the world. As a result, international organizations particularly the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agency notable “UNESCO” and the World Bank continue to mount the crusade for manpower development not only in developing countries but also in advanced countries. This is because manpower development in its wide context has been recognized as the basis for the wealth of nations. The wealth and vitality of any nation rests ultimately on capital and natural resources and always passive ingredient without human resources”.

Therefore, this research examined the problems and prospect of manpower development in Niger State with particular reference to

Rijau Local Government Civil Service.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

For many years, personnel management and specialists have recognized the need to have the right people at the right job in order to improve productivity. Personnel experts believe that the manpower needs of an organization can only be fulfilled by having qualified skilled and experienced employees. This can only be achieved through appropriate procedures of manpower problems and prospects. Experts observes that most organization suffered from organizational inefficiency and ineffectiveness as a result of improper manpower problems and prospects.

Manpower problems and prospects had been relegated to the background level of organization most especially in the public sector. The research therefore, intends to investigate the above problem and offer possible solution with particular reference to Rijau Local

Government in Niger State.

1.3  RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

In the process of this research, the following questions would be asked; 

i.             What are the problems of manpower development in Rijau

Local Government?

ii.           What are the prospects for effective manpower development in Rijau Local Government?

iii.          What are the ways of improving manpower development for sustainable development in the Rijau Local Government?

1.4  AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aims of this research is to examine problems and prospects of manpower development in Niger State with a particular reference to the State Civil Service in Rijau Local Government. In fact the study has the following specific objectives.

i.             To examine the problems of manpower development in Rijau Local Government. 

ii.           To      examine     the    prospects   for     effective      manpower development in Rijau Local Government. 

iii.          To suggest ways of improving manpower development for sustainable development in the Local Government.

1.5  JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Since the success and the development of any nation rest entirely on the development of manpower resources, a research of this kind would leave no stone unturned in identifying the problems militating against proper development of manpower in Niger state. The findings would help to improve the efficiency of manpower development for effective management of scarce resources in Niger State.

Moreover, the findings would also help identify better strategies of developing manpower of various categories across various sectors of the economy and society for effective management of our scare resources for rapid development of our nation.

The research is therefore significance since it would add to the existing literature relevant to the research topic under review. 

This study may contribute to scholarship, its findings may be useful to the ongoing debate on manpower planning, particularly at

Local Government level.

1.6  ASSUMPTION

The following assumptions provide the guide for this research.

i.             That the caliber of employee recruited in an organization may determine the nature and volume of productivity in organization.

ii.           That absence of appropriate motivation inform of enough salaries and advancement may militate against efficiency of the organization.

iii.          That the Niger State Civil Service Commission has been playing the role it is expected to play in manpower

recruitment and utilization in public sector.

1.7  THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK WORK

The study employs “System Analysis” as its theoretical frame work. This is because system analysis places much premium on the integral parts that constitute an organic whole. Nonetheless one would like to know the central theme of the system analysis theory.

According to David Easton (1964), political system is “that system of interaction in any society through which binding or Authoritative allocations are made”. Authoritative allocation may be roughly translated as policy making.

The political system operates within an environment. The environment generates demands from different sections of the society such as demand for reservation in the matter of employment for certain groups, demand for better working conditions or minimum wages, demands for better transportation facilities, demand for better health facilities etc. Different demands have different levels of supports. Both demands and supports constitute what Easton calls input. The political system receives these inputs from the environment. After taking various factors into consideration, the government decides to take action on some of these demands while others are not acted upon.

Through the conversion process, the inputs are converted into output by the decisions makers in the form of policies, decisions, rules, regulations and laws. The outputs, flow back into the environment through a feedback mechanism, giving rise to fresh demands. Accordingly, it is a cyclical process.

Therefore the theory of system approach is related to manpower development since it is relating to political environment where all manpower is centered which involves decision makers.

1.8  SCOPE AND LIMITATION.

 It is believed that the success of any organization is determined by the interplay of its materials and human resources. In this case, the research is only confined to the problems and prospects of manpower development in Rijau Local Government with particular reference to the state civil service. In the course of this, the areas to be examined include the following: recruitment, training, discipline, transfer and promotion of the state employees. The research is limited to Rijau Local Government Civil Service.

1.9  DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS

i.            MANPOWER: Is the number of people working or available for work or service.

ii.          DEVELOPMENT: According to Walter Rodney; Development is about increase skills and capacity it is about better freedoms creativity responsibility and material well being of people.

iii.         PROBLEMS: is something that is difficult to deal with or to understand. 

iv.         PROSPECTS: This simply means a wide view before the mind or in the imagination. It also means the possibility that will happen. 

v.           CIVIL SERVICE: According to Ademoleku (1983) “Civil Service comprises of Servants of the state other than those holding political appointment who are employed in the capacity and whose remuneration is paid out of the money voted by the legislators.” A civil servant is simply someone; man or woman employed by the civil service commission and paid by government out of money voted for the purpose by the national assembly or state House of Assembly.

1.10  METHODOLOGY 

Methodology has to do with techniques adopted in conducting the study. Both Primary and secondary method of data collection will be used in the research work. It involve the following; Research Design, Sampling Techniques, Population of the study, Instrument of data collection, Method of data analysis.

1.10.1      RESEACH DESIGN

Research design specified the framework in which the research is based.

The survey research will be used in arriving at conclusion which is aimed at determining the extent to which manpower

process and utilization plays a significant role in public sector, with reference to Local Government Civil Service in Rijau. The research is interesting in making an accurate assessment of the sample drawn from the population. It is classified into different method of obtaining information in carrying out this research, the use of questionnaire was employed in gathering information from the sampled population.

1.10.2      SAMPLING TECHNIQUES

This is the process in which a portion known as sample of population is systematically selected and taken as being representatives of the population as such research would adopt random sampling in order to collect data from the respondents.

The sample of the study is hundred (100) staff, representing the entire work force in Rijau Local Government. However, conscious of the fact that any attempt to examine the entire Local Government Civil Service would be complex and difficult. Therefore, the choice of fairly representative and manageable sample became inevitable.

Therefore, 60 questionnaire were designed and distributed to the target population and the analysis of the research will be based on the number of questionnaire completed and return.

1.10.3      POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The population of the study are both male and female working in the study area because of the fact that the concerned with manpower development.

1.10.4      INSTRUMENTS OF DATA COLLECTION

This research will use the following instruments of data collection; interview and questionnaire.

In the case of primary source of data questionnaires and interview method were used. The potency of a questionnaire to furnish researchers with simple information on a wider scale cannot be disputed. The kind of questionnaires to be administered for the purpose of tis research will create a balance between personal initiative in suggesting answers and standardization of responses, hence, the use of both structured questions will be adopted.

The structured questionnaires will contain the questions and alternative answers. While others questions will not include alternative answers. The questionnaires will be designed and distributed to Rijau Local Government civil servants of both higher and lower Cadre to obtain relevant data to the research topic.

On the other hand, interview methods is also another effective method which the researcher is going to adopt in order to obtain reliable information pertaining the problems and prospects of manpower development among the state civil servant in Niger state.

In this case, the researcher intends to adopt scheduled interview technique which could be convenient to the respondents. The people to be interview would include the executive members of personnel management and the Local government civil servants of the both higher and lower cadre in different ministers and

organization in Niger state.

The secondary source of data includes documentary sources.

The importance of documentary source in any research work cannot be overstated. This is because no research work can be successfully or effectively done without making reference to the document records.

Document sources simply means written records like textbooks, magazines, Newspaper, Journals, Pamphlets and the like. These materials have a vital role in providing the research with useful and relevant information about the subject investigation.

1.10.5      METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

Relevant data collected in this research will be analyzed using descriptive statistics the column-table of various frequency and percentage. This is done in order to make it more easier and to ensure assessment and understanding. Questions in this

questionnaire determine the extent of the validity and reliability.

1.11         CHAPTERIZATON

This project consists of five chapters. Chapter one contains the introductory section, Statement of the Problem, Research Question, Aims and Objective of the study, Justification of the research significant of the study, Assumptions, Theoretical Framework, Scope and Limitation, Definition of the concept, Methodology and Chapterization.

Chapter two deals with the review of relative literature which consist of Justification of manpower, and Manpower development

training. 

Chapter Three de