Institutions are established to accomplish specified goals. To achieve these goals, the human resource
is seen as one of the most crucial factors, without which the goals are as good as dead. This study
empirically examined strategies for employee recruitment, retention and performance in the Federal
civil service (FCS) of Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of the study, questionnaires were administered
to civil servants at the Office of the Head of the civil service of Nigeria and structured interview was
carried out with civil servants at the FCS Commission, Abuja. The study adopted the chi-square
analytical technique to analyze the variables. The results showed that the strategies for employee
recruitment into the civil service are mainly based on Federal character principle (equal representation
of people from different sections of the country), merit, political consideration and government
discretion. In terms of strategies for employee retention, the study found that the service lagged behind
in providing adequate incentives to retain its workforce for performance compared to what is obtainable
in the private sector. It therefore recommends that while Federal character principle may be necessary
as strategy for employee recruitment into the FCS because of Nigeria’s multicultural, ethnic and
religious diversity, its application should however be carried out to reflect merit within the principle. In
addition, appropriate incentives should be provided to retain competent employees for performance.