Managerial Leadership And Public Service Delivery In Africa: The Nigerian Experience
C. J. Igbokwe-Ibeto
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
K.O. Osakede
West African Seasoning Company Ltd, Apapa Lagos
Keywords: Efficiency, leadership, management, service delivery, reform
Abstract
Efficient and effective public service delivery is contingent on a new perspective to public sector management. This new perspective requires a leadership that is transformative and in line with current realities in public sector management and above all that is able to appropriate environmental variables such as managerial leadership to bring about the much-needed change in public sector service delivery. Over the years, this aspect has suffered immeasurably. Indeed, with committed leadership and patriotic citizens, this is bound to change. Aim: Within the framework of agency theory, this article examined managerial leadership and public service delivery in Africa with specific reference to Nigeria. Setting: This study which is theoretical in nature drew its arguments mostly from secondary data which include: textbooks, journal publications and internet sources. Relevant sources of this research were fairly and professionally scrutinized, understood and tested with the available literature for the purpose of the research. Inter alia, it included scan-reading, comprehensive and critical reading and writing down ideas. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed, during a desktop study. Methods: This study was carried out using the qualitative desktop method in deriving data for addressing the issues under analysis. 31 literature sources were consulted and analysed in order to explore the nexus between managerial leadership and public service delivery in Africa. Results: This study argues that the much-needed change in public service delivery in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular cannot take place unless public sector leadership transforms into the people bureaucrats to pursue the general good rather than personal or group interest. Conclusion: This study identified some obstacles confronting managerial leadership in the public sector towards achieving efficient and effective public service delivery. This includes: poor funding, lack of modern technology, paucity of qualified and skilled human capital, lack of political will to reform the public sector, among others. The solution to all these lies in solving the identified problems, once the problems are sincerely tackled the public sector in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general will experience transformation for the good of all in the polity