CHAPTER ONE

1.1      INTRODUCTION

Manpower development according to Branch (2000) is educational and development activities conducted by an enterprises to improve the lives of their workers. The activities have definite relationship to employment in human capital formation as a process which enable organization to acquire and increase their manpower stock, through the process of planning, recruitment, and training. Employer develop their staff and mobilize them in the attainment of organizational goals. Training is therefore an integral element in manpower development.

Cole (2001) viewed manpower development as being concerned with increasing knowledge and skills in doing a particular job. He went further to say that training is an attempt to improve the performance of employees through learning which is done by increasing their skills and knowledge.

According to Ekpo (2002) manpower development programmes are designed to educate employees beyond the requirement of their present job position so that they can be prepared for promotion and be able to face future challenges.

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The importance of manpower development has long been recognized not only by individual and groups but also organizations and nations throughout the world. As a result, international organizations particularly the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agency notable “UNESCO” and the World Bank continue to mount the crusade for manpower development not only in developing countries but also in advanced countries. This is because manpower development in its wide context has been recognized as the basis for the wealth of nations. The wealth and vitality of any nation rests ultimately on capital and natural resources and always passive ingredient without human resources”.

Therefore, this research examined the problems and prospect of manpower development in Niger State with particular reference to Rijau Local Government Civil Service.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

For many years, personnel management and specialists have recognized the need to have the right people at the right job in order to improve productivity. Personnel experts believe that the manpower needs of an organization can only be fulfilled by having qualified skilled and experienced employees. This can only be achieved through appropriate procedures of manpower problems and

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prospects. Experts observes that most organization suffered from organizational inefficiency and ineffectiveness as a result of improper manpower problems and prospects.

Manpower problems and prospects had been relegated to the background level of organization most especially in the public sector. The research therefore, intends to investigate the above problem and offer possible solution with particular reference to Rijau Local Government in Niger State.

1.3   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In the process of this research, the following questions would be asked;

i.             What are the problems of manpower development in Rijau Local Government?

ii.           What are the prospects for effective manpower development in Rijau Local Government?

iii.         What are the ways of improving manpower development for sustainable development in the Rijau Local Government?

1.4   AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aims of this research is to examine problems and prospects of manpower development in Niger State with a particular

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reference to the State Civil Service in Rijau Local Government. In fact the study has the following specific objectives.

i.             To examine the problems of manpower development in Rijau Local Government.

ii.           To examine the prospects for effective manpower development in Rijau Local Government.

iii.         To suggest ways of improving manpower development for sustainable development in the Local Government.

1.5      JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Since the success and the development of any nation rest entirely on the development of manpower resources, a research of this kind would leave no stone unturned in identifying the problems militating against proper development of manpower in Niger state. The findings would help to improve the efficiency of manpower development for effective management of scarce resources in Niger State.

Moreover, the findings would also help identify better strategies of developing manpower of various categories across various sectors of the economy and society for effective management of our scare resources for rapid development of our nation.

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The research is therefore significance since it would add to the existing literature relevant to the research topic under review.

This study may contribute to scholarship, its findings may be useful to the ongoing debate on manpower planning, particularly at Local Government level.

1.6      ASSUMPTION

The following assumptions provide the guide for this research.

i.             That the caliber of employee recruited in an organization may determine the nature and volume of productivity in organization.

ii.