The idea of making the civil service permanent, neutral and anonymous is to _________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the purpose of three features of the civil service: permanence, neutrality, and anonymity.

Step 2: Explain the concept These are the classic principles of the civil service, especially in the Westminster-style system Nigeria inherited:

• Permanent: Civil servants keep their jobs when governments change, so they do not leave after an election. This keeps institutional memory and continuity of government work.
• Neutral: They serve any government in power impartially, without taking sides in politics. This lets them give honest, professional advice.
• Anonymous: Ministers take public responsibility for decisions (ministerial responsibility), while civil servants stay out of the public eye and are not praised or blamed personally.

Together, these features protect the service from political interference and keep it professional, stable and focused on carrying out government policy.

Step 3: Test each option

• A. Make civil servants a functional elite: This is not the aim. Civil servants are not meant to be an elite class.
• B. Prevent opposition to government: Neutrality does not suppress opposition. It simply keeps civil servants out of partisan politics.
• C. Ensure loyalty and support: Civil servants are loyal to the state and the government of the day, but the purpose of these principles is not to win political support for any party.
• D. Enhance efficiency in administration: Continuity, impartiality and professionalism lead to smooth, efficient running of government. This is the best fit.

Step 4: Answer

Tip: When you see "permanent, neutral and anonymous" in a Government question, think continuity + impartiality = efficient administration. Also remember that JAMB often pairs this with the idea of ministerial responsibility.