A permanent civil service

A permanent civil service is a body of professional government officials who remain in their posts regardless of changes in the political leadership. Ministers and elected officials come and go after elections or regime changes, but civil servants stay on to keep the machinery of government running.

This permanence makes continuity of government possible. When a new administration takes office, it inherits trained officials who understand existing policies, procedures, and institutional records. Without this continuity, every change of government would require rebuilding administrative capacity from scratch, causing disruption in the delivery of public services and the implementation of government programmes.

The other options describe potential criticisms or side effects that are not defining features of a permanent civil service. Arrogance among officials, ethnic domination, and undermining government authority are occasional accusations, but none of them is the recognised purpose or characteristic outcome of maintaining a permanent civil service. The primary constitutional justification for permanence is ensuring uninterrupted governance.