By Chukwu, Fredrick Ikenna
The study assesses the effect of monetization of fringe benefits policy on the Nigeria federal civil service; using the federal ministry of education, Abuja as study area. Anchored on the elite theory, it seeks to find out if the monetization of fringe benefits has met the socio-economic needs of the Nigerian Civil Servants; examine the impact of monetization of fringe benefits on the job performance of the Nigerian Civil Servants; and ascertain whether the monetization of fringe benefits policy actually reduced cost of governance and unnecessary pressure on national resources. The study utilized the survey research design and data for this study were generated through primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary source of data collection was based on the distribution of questionnaires to the 366 sample size utilized. These respondents were randomly selected amongst the staff of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, using the Yamene 5% method. Data for this study were presented in quantitative and tabular format showing frequency and percentages of responses, hence subdivided into two sections –section A and B. Percentage and frequency distribution were utilized to analyze the data generated from the first section of the questionnaire and the chi-square (X²) test was utilized for the analysis of data generated from the second part of the questionnaire to draw inferences. Based on the assumptions (hypotheses), several findings were made, such as that the Nigerian Civil Service is still inefficient in spite of the reform, and that the continued inefficiency is linked to the fact that the policy impacted negatively on the socio-economic needs of the Civil service; and that the cost of governance in Nigeria has not reduced in spite of the policy. On the basis of the above findings, recommendations were made such as that that the government should ensure that the interest of the civil servants are protected in the policy implementation of the policy as was adumbrated in the policy objectives to ensure that the benefits of the policy really gets to those targeted unless of course the policy is for the elite by making, by balancing the desire to sell off the government quarters at a high rate and making it affordable to the civil servants whom the policy encourages to own their own houses.