Abstract
This study examines the role of tribal relations in shaping perceptions of trust in Nigeria’s public administration system. Using a quantitative and empirical approach, data were collected from 600 respondents representing Nigeria’s major ethnic groups: Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Minority groups. Four hypotheses were tested to evaluate the influence of recruitment fairness, tribal affiliation, federal character principle, and service delivery efficiency on trust in public administration. The findings reveal partial support for the hypotheses. The federal character principle significantly and positively impacts trust (p < .05), suggesting that perceptions of inclusivity and balanced representation play a critical role in fostering trust in public institutions. However, recruitment fairness, tribal affiliation influence, and service delivery efficiency, while theoretically relevant, did not show statistically significant effects (p > 0.05). These results highlight the need to prioritize transparent implementation of the federal character principle while addressing systemic issues that undermine recruitment fairness and service delivery quality. Additionally, mitigating the perceived influence of tribal affiliations requires promoting impartiality and equity in administrative processes. The study underscores the complexities of public trust in a multi-ethnic context and recommends policy interventions to enhance fairness, inclusivity, and administrative efficiency.