LEADERSHIP STYLES AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between leadership styles, personnel management and service delivery in the Nigerian public service. The persistent challenges of inefficiency, poor accountability and low employee motivation in Nigeria’s public institutions have been widely attributed to ineffective leadership practices. This study adopted a descriptive survey design to examine how transformational, transactional, autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles influence personnel management and service delivery outcomes. Using a descriptive survey design. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 150 public servants across selected ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). A self designed questionnaire tagged “Leadership Styles in Personnel Management Questionnaire” (LSIPMQ)was used to collect data for the study. Expert screened the instrument to ensure its validity. The test-retest method were used to evaluate the instrument's reliability, fifty administrators who were not part of the study were given the instrument within an interval of two weeks. The Pearson's Products Moment Correlation was used to analyze the data collected. A reliability coefficient of 0.89 was obtained. Findings revealed that transformational and transactional leadership styles significantly improve employee motivation, job commitment and service delivery efficiency, while autocratic and laissez faire styles negatively impact organizational performance. The study further shows that leadership effectiveness directly influences personnel management practices such as training, supervision and performance appraisal. The study concludes that leadership style is a critical determinant of service delivery outcomes. It recommends leadership development programs, adoption of participatory leadership approaches and strengthening of institutional accountability systems. This study contributes to public administration literature and provides policy relevant insights for improving governance in Nigeria.