§ 21. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take upon the findings of the Phillipson-Adebo Report on the Nigerianisation of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. J. FosterThis Report has been considered by the Nigerian Government. A statement by the Council of Ministers of their views was published at the beginning of February. As it is rather long, I will place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. JohnsonDoes not the Minister think that this Report took too long to come out, that six months is too long a period? Is he aware that it would have been of great assistance to the delegates at the August Conference hi London if they could have had copies of this Report which was compiled by two distinguished civil servants, one European and one African?
§ Mr. FosterOf course, the Report is primarily a matter for the Nigerian Government and, as the hon. Gentleman has seen, some statements in the Report have been overtaken by events.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs not that platitudinous? Is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that time is always marching on and that we should always be overtaken by events? Is this not a case of the same old lag, because this Report was held up when the delegates were discussing Lagos at the same August Conference?
§ Mr. FosterThe Phillipson-Adebo Report, which is the subject of the Question, assumes a retention of a unitary public service. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Conference went on another tack and recommended four services. The same thing happened, with their recommendations about the non-promotion of Nigerian officers, which is also contrary to what was adopted at the Conference.
§ Sir H. WilliamsMay I ask whether "Nigerianisation" is a word used in the elementary schools of this country?