THE NEXUS BETWEEN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIAS PUBLIC SECTOR
Usman Shuaibu, PhD , Mohammed Umar Kitabu, PhD and Balogun Olarenwaju Musa, PhD
Volume 13 Issue 1
Abstract
This study explores the nexus between political leadership and institutional productivity in Nigerias public sector. Despite several public sector reforms, the country continues to experience inefficiencies, slow service delivery, and weak policy implementation. Political leadership plays a critical role in shaping the performance of public institutions by influencing policy direction, resource allocation, and administrative operations. This study aims to examine how political leadership practices, particularly the quality of leadership, affect institutional productivity. The research is anchored on New Institutional Theory, which emphasizes the influence of institutionalized rules, norms, and cultural beliefs in shaping organizational behavior and performance. The study uses a descriptive survey research design to collect data from public sector employees in Abuja, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was employed to gather perceptions on the impact of political leadership on institutional productivity, and multiple regression analysis was applied to examine relationships between variables. The findings indicate that clear political leadership direction enhances institutional productivity, while political interference and patronage diminish efficiency and effectiveness. Ethical leadership practices, such as transparency and accountability, were also found to significantly improve employee commitment and institutional output. The study recommends strengthening ethical leadership practices and ensuring robust safeguards to limit political interference in administrative decisions to improve public sector performance. Keywords: Political Leadership, Institutional Productivity, Public Sector, Nigeria, New Institutional Theory
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