Ethics And Attitudinal Change in The Public Service Seminar

How can public leaders exercise ethical leadership, and how can we promote clean government, given the many excuses for 'dirty hands' that injures the character of many leaders? This course provides participant with a purview to debates over public sector ethics, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of public servants and their relationships to politicians and others sharing public power. The faculty uses practical examples and case studies of ethical problems from across the public sector, blending Nigeriaan and international material so that participants can learn from a variety of policy frameworks appropriate to the regulation of public conduct. Participants will examine core theories of ethics with the aim of relating these to prevailing narratives of public policy and practices of public administration.  They will also examine various approaches to codifying and enforcing public sector ethics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.   critically understand the main concepts and theories in public sector ethics and governance;
2.   critically apply ethical concepts and theories to examples of public sector practice;
3.   access relevant source materials on public sector ethics;
4.    critically understand the role of ethics in professional public sector practice; 
5.  apply critical analytical corporate governance capacity to answering questions on public sector ethics.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• examine the underlying assumptions behind the ethical responsibilities of public officials andgovernment figures in democratic societies;
• explore key aspects of professional ethics – conflicts of interest, loyalty, duty, subordination;
• give attention to the way in which institutional arrangements and reforms promote or inhibitmoral choices and anti­corruption strategies.
• Assess norms and values related to the public service.

COURSE OUTLINE

Ethics – concept basics, what it is and what it is not

• Ethical theories
• What is it all about?
• Definitions
• Can it be taught?
• Can it be enforced?
• The trust issues

Professional Ethics for the Public Service – Codes of Ethics and Codes of Conduct

• Moral vs. Ethics. Vs. other norms
• Codes of conduct / compliance-based codes
• Codes of Ethics / Values based codes
• Importance of PSE

Conflicts of Interest – Prevention or Management?

• Definition of Conflict of Interest
• Perceived vs. actual conflict of interest
• Distinguishing from other ethical dilemmas
• Ways of prevention and/or management

Solving Ethical dilemmas ­ checklists

• Conflicts of interests
• Gifts and gratuities
• Post­employment
• Registration procedures

Working Public Sector ethics

• Enforcement
• Training
• Prevention

Ethics and Corruption

• Corruption and unethical behaviour
• Practical approaches to prevent corruption involving PSE

PSE Enforcement

• Can we enforce it?
• Codes of conduct and internal controls
• Responsibilities – internal and external bodies

Whistleblowers and whistleblower protection – what they are and what they are not.

• Definition
• Whistleblowers or whistleblowing?
• Whistleblower protection – models
• Does it work?

TARGET GROUP:

The programme is designed for designated Members of staff and Top Management Staff.