Which class of the civil service has the closest contact with the political class?

Analyze the question: The question asks which class of the civil service works most closely with the political class (ministers, commissioners, the President, governors and so on).

Concept: The Nigerian civil service is divided into broad classes:

• Administrative class: the top policy-advising cadre, made up of Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Directors. They advise the political office holders, help formulate policy, and make sure government decisions are carried out.
• Professional class: specialists such as engineers, doctors and lawyers who give technical advice within their fields.
• Executive class: supervises the day-to-day implementation of policies and runs departments (for example, Executive Officers).
• Clerical class: handles routine office work such as filing, typing and record keeping.
• Managerial: this is not a standard class in the traditional Nigerian civil service structure. It is a general term.

Solution:

1. The political class (ministers) sets policy direction but is not permanent and often lacks technical knowledge.
2. The Permanent Secretary, who belongs to the administrative class, is the accounting officer and the minister's chief adviser.
3. Administrative officers therefore interact with political office holders more than any other class, advising them and turning their decisions into government action.
4. The executive and clerical classes work further down the hierarchy, and professionals mostly advise within their technical areas.

Answer: A. Administrative

Exam tip: Remember "Administrative = Advisers to Ministers". Whenever you see "closest to politicians" or "policy advice," think of the Administrative class, headed by the Permanent Secretary.