LEADERSHIP AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR WORK ORGANISATIONS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Odonye Dauda Yusuf
Volume 1 Issue 1

Abstract

Leadership has been identified as one of the main factors affecting productivity in every work organisation. This paper examines leadership-productivity nexus using Nigeria as a focal point. The paper reviews critically the concepts of leadership and productivity. It examines the various theories of leadership as well as other empirical works on the subject matter within the periods 2015 to 2019. Using data generated through secondary sources and subjected to descriptive analysis, the study explores the various meanings of productivity, how it is measured, factors that affect it and some benefits associated with productivity improvement. From the analysis of leadershipproductivity nexus, the paper finds out that situations usually determine the leadership style that may be applied to motivate higher productivity among employees in work organisations. The findings further reveals that due to poor style of leadership, productivity of workers in both public and private sectors has remained dismal in Nigeria work organisations. However, this is not surprising considering the fact that work organisations are the microcosms of larger Nigeria society in which poor political leadership has deprived the nation from transforming from a poverty stricken country to a more prosperous and buoyant one. On the bases of the findings, the paper recommended that government and other employers of labour should set up efforts to improving productivity through effective and responsible leadership both at the micro (individual work organisations) and macro (nation at large) levels. The paper, therefore, concludes that unless there is effective and focused political and organisational leadership and virile followership both at the organisational and national levels, the vision of improved productivity in work organisations and national development will remain a mirage. Keywords: Leaders, Leadership, National Development, Productivity, Work Organisation.

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