Leadership and Reward Practices as Determinants of Effective Service Delivery of Academic Staff in South-East Universities, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study focuses on leadership and reward practices as determinants of effective service delivery by academic staff in South-East universities in Nigeria. This study specifically examined the relationship that exists among leadership, reward, and effective service delivery of academic staff in state universities in South-East Nigeria. Two research questions posed and two null hypotheses formulated guided the study. A correlational survey research design was used. The population of the study was 1972 academic staff, and the sample was 332 drawn using multi stage sampling technique. Three researcher designed questionnaires titled “Leadership Practice Questionnaire (LPQ)”, “Reward Practice (RP)”, and “Service Delivery Questionnaire (SDQ)” were validated and used for data collection. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC), and Linear Regression model were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that a strong positive relationship exists between leadership practice and effective service delivery of academic staff in state universities; a moderate positive relationship exists between reward practice and effective service delivery of academic staff in state universities. More so, a significant relationship exists between leadership practice and effective service delivery of academic staff in state universities; a significant relationship exists between reward practice and effective service delivery of academic staff in state universities. It was recommended that universities ought to implement meritocratic and competency-based criteria for leadership appointments. This is because leadership quality directly impacts service delivery.