As part of its constitutional mandate, the Public Service Commission operates to

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the constitutional role of the Public Service Commission (PSC), a body found in Ghana and in Nigeria (at federal and state levels, as the Civil Service Commission or Public Service Commission).

Step 2: Explain the concept The Public Service Commission is an independent body created by the constitution to manage the public service professionally and keep it free from political interference. Its main functions are:

• Recruiting and appointing people into the public/civil service, especially senior positions
• Promoting, disciplining, and dismissing public officers
• Advising government on public service matters and ensuring merit-based recruitment

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. Appoint the head of the commission. Wrong. The head (Chairman) is appointed by the President or Governor, usually on advice of the Council of State or with legislative confirmation. The commission does not appoint its own head.
• B. Carry out the order of the presidency only. Wrong. The commission is meant to be independent and not take orders from any single authority.
• C. Recruit high ranking personnel for the civil service. Correct. Recruitment, appointment, and discipline of public officers are core constitutional functions of the commission.
• D. Review salaries and allowances of staff of the executive only. Wrong. Reviewing salaries and allowances is the job of bodies like the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (Nigeria) or a salaries commission, and it is not limited to the executive.

Step 4: Answer

Exam tip: Link each commission to its core job. Public/Civil Service Commission means hiring, promoting, and disciplining staff. INEC means elections. Code of Conduct Bureau means asset declaration. Words like "only" in options (B and D) often signal a wrong answer.