Prebendal Politics and Recruitment in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Bayelsa State, Nigeria (2011-2024)

The research work examined prebendal politics and recruitment in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Bayelsa State from 2011 to 2024. The specific objectives of the study were to determine if there is a significant relationship between merit-based recruitment and efficient service delivery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council; and to examine the effect of godfatherism find our if there is an association between patronage system and inefficient service delivery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council. The study adopted the Resource Based View theory; applied a descriptive survey research design with structured questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection. The population of the study is 1112; and the sample population size is 294 derived via the application of Taro Yamani Sample Size Determination Formula. The data collected via questionnaire were analyzed using table and percentages, while the hypotheses tested using chi-square statistical tool. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between Merit based recruitment and efficient service delivery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Bayelsa State; and that there is an association between patronage system recruitment and inefficient service delivery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, Bayelsa State. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made that merit-based recruitment principles should be strictly adhered to at all times in order to ensure efficient service delivery; and that patronage system recruitment should be discouraged to reduce inefficient service delivery in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council.