One of these is a major problem of the Nigerian civil service

Analyze the question: It asks for a major problem of the Nigerian civil service. Several options are real concerns, so we must pick the one that is most widely recognised as the major, defining problem.

Explain the concept: The Nigerian civil service is the permanent body of non-political staff that implements government policies. Common problems discussed in Government textbooks include:

• Corruption: bribery, embezzlement, inflated contracts, ghost workers, and abuse of office. This is consistently listed as the foremost problem.
• Political interference/influence: politicians interfering with appointments, promotions, and the neutrality of civil servants.
• Inadequate personnel/funding: shortages of trained staff and resources.
• Weak leadership: poor supervision and accountability.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Option A, inadequate personnel: The civil service is often overstaffed, not understaffed. The bigger issue is a lack of skilled staff, not a lack of numbers. This is not the major problem.
2. Option B, political influence: This is a real problem, but it is mostly a cause of other problems, such as breaches of neutrality and favouritism in appointments.
3. Option C, corruption: It affects every level of the service, with embezzlement, bribery, and padding of budgets. It wastes public funds, weakens service delivery, and erodes public trust. It is the most commonly cited major problem.
4. Option D, lack of effective leadership: This is a contributing factor, but it is less often listed as the principal problem.

Answer: The option that best matches the standard textbook and examination answer is C. corruption.

Tip: For "major problem" questions on Nigerian public institutions (civil service, local government, police), corruption is usually the best answer unless the options include something more specific. Remember the chain: political influence and weak leadership create room for corruption.