My final thought on ethics in the workplace of today, particularly in Nigeria is a painful

expression of negative ethics in the context of new managerialism and a need to depart
from the classical bureaucratic inefficiencies of state/ public organizations which formed
and nurtured corruption as a mother to all the un-ethical descendants.
As outlined by Gilmour, we are torn between the rock and a hard place in that the
transformation or re-engineering of in-effective public organizations improves
productivity, motivation and accountability but also brings about ethical dilemmas such
as in-equality, threat to liberty of unions and associations and in-justice in distribution
of wealth, resources and services.
Humanity is in need of responsible administrators. Terry Coopers framework for public
administration forms a unique starting point for ethics in the workplace.
Starting from our philosophical roots, we must think about our decisions before acting,
network with colleagues and professionals in the workplace and globally to develop
dynamic and innovative tools and techniques for ethical inter-relationships,
review personal core values and consider core values of society and colleagues
(Cooper, 2012).
I wish to conclude this great learning experience by connecting with one special
theorist, Carol Gilligan who suggests and I agree based on clear local evidence that
ethical women do not just make better public administrators, but in any challenging
situation or dilemma, they would consider the greater good first and make the most
responsible decision by a summary of two (2) special public administrators in Nigeria
as an example.
Prof. Dora Akunyili and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the immediate past Director General
of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the
current Finance Minister respectively, have left indelible footprints on the sands of
history as women who succeeded in every way where every other previous man had
failed or under-achieved. By re-defining responsible administration, they turned their
perceived nests of corruption and decay to pedestals of excellence, service and
transformational administration placing Nigeria once again on the global map for
positive impact rather than the obvious.
Ethics, social justice and responsibility for today and indeed the future for Nigerian
public and non-profit organizations are more than a philosophy, more than theory and
science, more than art and diplomacy.They are an embodiment of principles and
actions seemingly abstract like beauty, solid like reliability, complete like honesty and
graceful like excellence. Without being arrogant, discriminatory or sarcastic, we all know
these attributes are often associated to a particular group in humanity.

I seek to challenge the workplace in Nigeria, transcending the obvious roles of culture,
religion and indeed ignorance. Let us give our women their rightful place in public and
non-profit organization administration and management and see the quality of
responsibility and development we shall achieve.
References:

Cooper, T. (2012). The Responsible Administrator. San Francisco: John Wiley &
Sons.
Frederickson, H. G. (1999). Ethics and the new managerialism. Public Administration
and Management: An Interactive Journal 4(2), 299-324.