In January 1988, the President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida, announced fundamental and wide-ranging changes in the Nigerian civil service. This paper highlights the four major elements of the reforms, viz.: 1) the professionalization of the civil service through changes in staff structure and nomenclature, more emphasis on staff training, and the introduction of performance evaluation schemes; 2) the rationalization of authority at the top level of each ministry by making ministers chief executive as well as accounting officer; 3) the introduction of a system of checks and balances in order to prevent misuse and abuse of power; and 4) the strengthening of the role of the presidency in macroeconomic management by placing the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Planning and Budget Office directly under the President. Bibliogr., note, ref., sum. in English (p. 121-122), French (p. 126), and German (p. 117-118).
