Prof. Daniel Gberevbie of Covenant University, has advocated the need to build a resilient, robust and efficient public administration at all levels of government as a panacea for achieving sustainable national development.

Gberevbie, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science and International Relations of the university, made this known during the 25th Inaugural Lecture of the institution on Monday in Ota, Ogun.

The theme of the lecture was: “A Match to the future: Issues in Public Administration in Nigeria”.

The don noted that accountability by the political leadership and public administrators that subscribe to proper ethical values are catalysts to overcoming underdevelopment, hunger and poverty among citizens in the country.

“The country has failed to experience the much-anticipated advancement in different sectors of the economy due to poor leadership, after its independence in 1960.

“This is not because of lack of resources, both human and material resources in the country, but due to poor management and the inability of those entrusted with formulation and implementation of public policies and programmes for development to do the needful,” he said.

According to him, the unacceptable and indulgence in unethical behaviours by the public administrators were likely to experience development challenges as funds meant for infrastructural development may be embezzled by public officials.

Gberevbie, a Professor of Public Administration, therefore urged the Federal  Government to inculcate into all government officials and citizens, the need to imbibe ethical standards, behaviours and proper accountability both in the public and private sectors to reduce corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

This, he said, would aid development, the infrastructural provision in terms of good roads, quality healthcare, improved educational systems and a better life for ordinary citizens, among others.

He suggested that the federal government could impose a stiffer penalty on those found to be involved in unethical behaviours, no matter their position or status to serve as a deterrent to others.

The don also stressed the need to deploy e-governance in the area of proper public administrative practices towards the realisation of improved public service delivery for societal development.

Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said that public administrators are expected to be innovative and improve the quality of services they provide, upgrade their managerial skills to the inspiration of citizens.

According to him, the practitioners are expected to observe proper ethical standards and be accountable as well as responsible in the formulation and implementation of government policies.

Adebayo noted that despite all resources endowment by both human and natural, the nation was still facing the problems of economic growth and development issues due to an unhealthy public administration.

He, however, said that there was the need to critically assess the public administration by charting a new course of ethics, accountability and responsibilities in the delivery of public service. (NAN)