Prebendalism and the Politics of Patronage in Nigeria: An Elucidation of Public Service Delivery
Keywords:
Prebendalism, Public Service, Governance, Corruption, Service Delivery, NigeriaAbstract
This study interrogated the concept of prebendalism and its pervasive effects on governance and public service delivery in Nigeria. Conceptualised by Joseph (1987), prebendalism refers to the appropriation of state offices and resources by public officials as personal or sectional perquisites. The study examined the characteristics and manifestations of prebendalism within Nigeria’s political and administrative systems, with particular focus on patronage networks, ethnic favoritism, clientelism, and the “national cake” mentality. Using a qualitative and theoretical approach anchored in neo-patrimonial theory, the study assessed how prebendal practices undermined bureaucratic rationality, institutional performance, and accountability. Findings reveal that prebendal politics contributes to systemic corruption, inefficiency, the politicization of appointments, resource misallocation, and a decline in citizens’ trust in government institutions. The persistence of prebendalism is attributed to weak institutional frameworks, socio-economic inequality, politicized civil service, and entrenched communal and ethnic loyalties. The consequences are evident in poor infrastructure, inadequate social services, and the erosion of professional and ethical standards in public administration. The study recommends the institutionalization of merit-based recruitment, the strengthening of anti-corruption agencies, the adoption of e-governance and fiscal transparency, and a civic reorientation towards performance-based governance to eliminate prebendal politics from Nigeria’s public service.
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