THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT TO JOB PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT (A STUDY OF IVO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 2007-2015)
ABSTRACT
This work examined the influence of leadership on employee commitment to job performance in Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State. This was motivated by low productivity of Ivo Local Government workers in terms of job performance. Path goal theory of leadership was used as framework for the study. Both primary and secondary sources were equally used in data collection. In analyzing the data, the researcher used likert 5 point scale, frequency and percentage. The hypotheses in this work include: (1) there is poor leadership in Ivo Local Government. (2) Poor leadership has affected employee commitment to job performance. The study found out that lack of accountability and transparency, absenteeism and irregularity at the duty post, playing politics while discharging official duties, poor representation of the workers at the high level, lack of motivation of workers through compensation etc were the causes of poor leadership in Ivo Local Government. The study further discovered that this poor leadership resulted to lateness of workers and absenteeism to work, non-achievement of organizational goal, no encouragement of the employees in the organization, poor performance of workers towards their job or duty, low motivation of workers etc. The study recommended among other things; instituting mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency, being punctual and regular to duty post, avoiding partisan politics, full representation of workers at the high level, being motivators of workers, enhancing team spirit between the leaders and the workers etc; as the solutions to this ugly situation in Ivo Local Government.