PAD409

Conduct Of Government Business

Management Sciences
400 level
3 credit units
230 pages
20 units

This course provides students with a detailed understanding of how government conducts its business, particularly in Nigeria. It explores the concepts, structure, context, and content of government operations. The course also examines the roles and behaviors of operators within and outside government. Students will learn about communication procedures, ethical behavior, and the impact of reforms on government operations, combining theory and practice to appreciate the scope and capabilities of government.

Start reading

About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 60 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of PAD409, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2 · COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES IN GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Module 3 · ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN GOVERNMENT

Module 4

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

PAD409 · UNIT 1 GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE

You must read each unit carefully. The basic knowledge on the topic is conveyed here. An update of the knowledge is in reference to materials of currency. Supplementary reading is advised.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Explain the concepts and principles of government business.
Compare the structures and functions of different tiers and levels of government.
Demonstrate effective written communication skills for policy formulation and decision-making.
Apply ethical standards and codes of conduct in government operations.
Analyze the impact of reforms on government bureaucracy and service delivery.
Utilize ICT tools for efficient and transparent government administration.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Public Administrator
Policy Analyst
Government Official
Civil Servant
Public Sector Manager

Where it is applied

Government Agencies
Public Sector Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations
International Development Agencies

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
Unit 5: Constitution and its Provisions
Understanding the interplay among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches requires analyzing complex constitutional provisions and their practical implications.
Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
Unit 2: The Use of Nigeria's LINGUA FRANCA in Government
Mastering the nuances of English grammar and usage, and applying them correctly in official communications, demands meticulous attention to detail and a strong command of the language.
Module 3: Ethical Behaviour in Government
Unit 3: Anti-Corruption Law
The legal and ethical implications of corruption, and the specific duties and powers of the ICPC and EFCC, require careful study and critical analysis.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 36 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
- Unit 1: Government and Governance · 2 hours
  Read the unit introduction to understand the basis of governance and the idea of government.. Study the concepts of government and governance, identifying significant parameters.. Identify the branches of government in Nigeria and their roles.. Examine the role of the constitution in governance and public administration..
Week 2Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
- Unit 2: The Environment and its Influence · 2 hours
  Identify variables within the Nigerian environment that impact government.. Analyze the influence of colonialism on governance.. Examine social, human relations, language, and educational system factors.. Discuss the impact of climatic conditions and the copy-cat syndrome on government business..
Week 3Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
- Unit 3: Constitutional Provisions · 2 hours
  Define the concept of a constitution and its role in regulating government operations.. Trace the constitutional development in Nigeria from its inception to the present day.. Analyze the current 1999 constitution in use in Nigeria.. Derive lessons from the analysis for use in the conduct of government business..
Week 4Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
- Unit 4: Public Policy Analysis and Implementation · 2 hours
  Explain the concept of public policy and its role in government business.. Trace the various stages involved in policy making and implementation.. Discuss the impact of the environment in policy making and implementation.. State the roles of the major actors in the public policy making and implementation..
Week 5Module 1: Contextual Issues in Government Business
- Unit 5: Decision Making in Government · 2 hours
  Explain the concept of decision making and its importance in government.. Mention the multiple roles of the decision maker.. Discuss the overlaps of politics and public sector decision making.. Outline the roles of pressure groups and the external environment in decision making..
Week 6Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 1: Communication in Government · 2 hours
  Define communication and its importance in government.. State the functions of communication within an organization.. Explain the communication process and its various elements.. Identify areas and modes of communication in the public service.. Outline the barriers to effective communication and ways to overcome them..
Week 7Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 2: The Use of Nigeria's LINGUA FRANCA in Government · 2 hours
  Identify common errors in the use of English language.. State appropriate corrections to such errors.. Apply correct English grammar in written communications in government business..
Week 8Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 3: Editing Procedures and Techniques · 2 hours
  Explain the concepts of editing and proofreading.. Outline the qualities of a good editor and proofreader.. Proofread and edit government draft documents..
Week 9Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 4: Drafting, Minuting, Memo Writing, Official Letter Writing · 2 hours
  Explain the terms drafting, minuting, memo writing, and official letter writing.. State the various stages of each process.. Outline the format and strategies for writing each to an acceptable standard..
Week 10Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 6: Report Writing · 2 hours
  Define the term 'Report'.. Mention the different types of Report.. Explain the stages involved in Report writing.. State how to write and present good Reports..
- Unit 5: Preparation of Council/Cabinet Memorandum · 2 hours
  Explain the term 'Memorandum'.. Identify the various stages of writing an acceptable Council Memo.. Explain the functions of the Council Secretariat.. List the steps to effective memoranda writing..
Week 11Module 2: Communication Procedures in Government Business
- Unit 7: Speech Writing · 2 hours
  Define speech.. Explain how to prepare a speech.. Outline the structure of a speech.. State the procedure for writing a good speech..
- Unit 8: Servicing Meetings · 2 hours
  Mention types of meetings.. Identify the stages involved in meetings.. Outline the format of minutes of a meeting..
Week 12Module 3: Ethical Behaviour in Government
- Unit 1: Handling Official Documents · 2 hours
  Explain the term 'official document'.. Discuss the procedure for handling files and correspondences in the office.. Classify documents.. Outline the features of good records keeping..
- Unit 2: Ethics and Code of Conduct · 2 hours
  Explain the concept of Ethics, and Code of Conduct.. List the elements that constitute Ethics and good conduct.. Discuss the institutional mechanism for installing ethics in the Public service.. Assess the performance of these institutions..
Week 13Module 3: Ethical Behaviour in Government
- Unit 3: Anti-Corruption Law · 2 hours
  Explain the term 'corruption' and what constitutes corruption.. Identify the functions of ICPC and EFCC.. Analyze the functions of Anti-corruption and transparency units in MDAs..
- Unit 4: Public Service Rules · 2 hours
  Explain the concept of Public Service Rules.. Specify how the rules are numbered.. Categorize the relevant sections of the rules and areas of coverage..
- Unit 5: Financial Regulations · 2 hours
  Explain the concept of Financial Regulation.. Discuss the need for Rules and Regulations to guide the Public Sector's Financial Management System.. State some highlights of the Financial Regulations.. Underline Financial Regulations as a tool for Accounting control.. Mention other matters dealt with in the Financial Regulations..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key concepts and definitions.
Practice writing memos, minutes, and official letters based on real-world scenarios.
Review the 1999 Constitution and relevant sections of the Public Service Rules.
Study case studies of corruption and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
Familiarize yourself with the functions and powers of the ICPC and EFCC.
Develop a strong understanding of ethical principles and codes of conduct for public officers.
Practice essay questions on the impact of reforms on government bureaucracy.
Create mind maps linking communication procedures to policy implementation.
Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback from your tutor.
Allocate specific study hours for each module, prioritizing areas of weakness.
Form a study group to discuss complex concepts and share insights.
Use past exam papers to familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types.
Prioritize studying units identified as peak difficulty periods and seek clarification on challenging concepts.

Questions students ask about this course

What is PAD409 about?

How many units does PAD409 have?

PAD409, Conduct Of Government Business, has 20 units across 4 modules, over 230 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is PAD409?

PAD409 carries 3 credit units, at 400 level in Management Sciences.

Is PAD409 hard?

PAD409 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does PAD409 take to study?

About 60 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.

How is PAD409 assessed?

PAD409 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with PAD409?

Public Administrator, Policy Analyst, Government Official, Civil Servant and Public Sector Manager.