Recruitment Techniques in Akwa Ibom State Civil Service: A Reflection of Charles Linblom’s Incremental Model

Abstract

This study examined Charles Lindblom’s Incremental Model and its application in the recruitment process in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service. The study was inspired by a desire to understand whether recruitment policies and practices take place through gradual adjustments rather than comprehensive reforms, using the Incremental Model by Charles E. Lindblom as the theoretical framework. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, while descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution and percentages were used for analysis. The study revealed that the recruitment process in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service is largely incremental in nature, characterized by step-by-step policy adjustments, continuity of existing procedures, and gradual adoption of innovations such as merit-based screening and digital recruitment systems. Findings further showed that despite incremental reforms, recruitment practices are still affected by challenges such as political interference, nepotism, bureaucratic delays, and weak institutional enforcement mechanisms. The study also established that while incremental changes improve efficiency and transparency to some extent, they are insufficient to address deep-rooted structural problems in the recruitment system. The study concluded that incremental decision-making remains a dominant and practical approach in the recruitment process within the civil service due to administrative constraints and political realities. However, it is recommended that incremental reforms should be complemented with comprehensive institutional reforms to achieve a more transparent, efficient, and merit-based recruitment system.