LEADERSHIP STYLES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON STAFF MORALE AND PRODUCTIVITY AT THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the effects that leadership style has on employee morale, it will also investigate the leadership ability to guide and motivate people to work together to achieve a common goal and examine causes and consequences of bad leadership style on employee morale in WAEC Nigeria between 2019 and 2024.  Descriptive survey design was used for the study and target population comprised all 1,712 permanent staff of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria. A sample size of 261 respondents participated in the study. Four research questions were raised to guide the study, and questionnaire was developed and used to collect the data. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency count and percentages. The results indicated  among other that management of WAEC Nigeria adopts Leadership style that increase staff morale and productivity; Laissez faire (delegative) leadership style is being used and democratic leadership style was rare used in the organisation; leadership of WAEC has the ability to guide and motivate people to work together to achieve common goals through giving clear instruction, involvement in assignment to motivate staff, recognition of subordinates efforts and motivation of staff. Recommendations were made among others that leaders irrespective of the leadership style being adopted should endeavour to involve staff in decision making.

Keywords: Leadership styles, management, WAEC, Nigeria, Employees Productivity, Morale