THE ROLE OF MENTORSHIP IN MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION TRAJECTORY IN NIGERIA PUBLIC SERVICE

This paper focused on the role of mentorship in management development and succession trajectory in the Nigeria Public Service. Issues on management development and succession trajectory were raised and discussed, the specific objectives are to ascertain the style of management development in public service, to assess the forms of succession trajectory in the public service, to examine the impact of mentorship in attaining performance in an organization and also to determine the role of mentorship in management development and succession trajectory in Nigeria public service. It was revealed that management development and succession trajectory are plagued by different factors such as governmental interferences, poor financial compensations, competences and meritocracy being ignored, changing governmental policies, funds met for training and development being diverted into private pockets among others. Research questions were also raised and discussed; does management development actually exist in the Nigeria Public Service? What is succession trajectory? To what extent has mentorship improved on performance? And does mentorship has any impact on management development and succession trajectory? The qualitative method of data collection was adopted; the researcher relied solely on secondary sources, that is, on books, journals, magazine, newspaper, internet, among others. This paper anchored on relay succession planning theory and social cognitive career theory. Findings from the study show that, it is imperative to de-emphasis politics in selection and appointment so as to give room for qualified and capable individuals in the managerial cadre. Management should embrace a well-structured mentoring /mentorship programmes so as to enhance performance.