Theory of public administration

INTRODUCTION
Public administration is a combination of both theory and practice. According to Stillman
(1980), there is no sharp point in history where the story of public administration theory begins,
just like that of its practice. However, its practice is as old as human civilization. In the United
States, there were two general textbooks on the subject matter of public administration theory
which were regarded as the first attempt at presenting the discipline. These books were written
by two scholars, White and Willoughby published in 1926 and 1927 respectively (Stillman,
1980). Although, the publication of these books marked the birth of public administration theory
as a discipline, it should, at the same time, be noted that there had been several decades of
preparation for the birth of the discipline ever before they were published. For example, the
works and efforts of some United States political leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and
Alexander Hamilton cannot be underestimated in the attention which these leaders gave to the
problems of public administration theory in a futuristic manner (Pfiffer & Presthus, 1967).
Despite these efforts and their relevance to the growth and maturation of public administration
theory, one cannot also down-play or ignore a remarkable essay by Wilson in 1887, eulogized by
Akindele (1994) as serving as the symbolic beginning of the discipline in such a perceptive,
persuasive and influential way both in its analytical and theoretical parlances.
The study of public administration has been characterized by normative approach (political
philosophy, lawmaking and constitutional arrangements) up till the 19th century. According to
Akindele, et.al (2000), as socio-economic life becomes more specialised and complex and, as
well as there continues to be an increase in government functions and responsibilities, there is a
need for the diversification of efforts towards a more empirical analysis of events. He equally
opined that there should be a science of administration, which is theory of public administration,
which shall seek to straighten the paths of government, to make its business less unlike, to
strengthen and purify its organisation, and to crown its duties with dutifulness. These initial
practical and theoretical efforts coupled with that of those who might be called the founding
fathers of public administration and, who were initially trained as political scientists, led to the