1.1 Introduction
Leadership covers a very conspicuous position of group or organizational conduct. It is the heart of an organization, which without; organization or group cannot properly function. It is obvious, that leadership ensures orderliness in an organization when an economic venture is undertaken by an organization with a view to maximizing economic opportunities it calls for person to supervise, direct, control, and co-operation to ensure effectives. Leadership cannot be completely delineated from management, though the former can be spoken of in relation to unorganized groups, while the later exist in an organized structure.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Leadership as known is the act of directing people/group of persons so as to accomplish as stated objectives determines the success and failure of an organization based on the style adopted. Also leadership can be seen as the ability to influence people to strive willingly towards accomplishing groups objectives. In other words, leadership is the ability to persuade others to seek defined objectives enthusiascally. Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done (Dwight &Eisenhower, 2002). Globally, individuals with requisite educational background have been appointed to carry out roles and responsibilities in different organizations. The need for leadership in all spheres of life dated years to be the time of bible leadership and administration. The first five books of the bible tell us how the Jews as nomadic wonderers in to the civilization of Egypt. Which was old and sophisticated settled in Egypt (Parkes, 2003).
The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, is a federal government-owned higher education institution located in Nekede, Owerri West local government area, Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria (Chidi, 2014). It was established on a temporary site at the premise of Government Technical College by the Imo State government in 1978 as the College of Technology, Owerri before it was moved to its present location in Nekede (FPNO, 2015). The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede offers National Diploma and Higher National Diploma courses at undergraduate levels (NBTE, 2015).
Modern writers in construction management are perplexed at the planning that went into the construction of pyramids (Goldhabe, 2002). They needed thought out project ideas, procuring of materials like stones and arranging for their movement to the sites, development of workers, scheduling and sequencing are all important aspect of project planning, staffing and controlling in operation (Uriyimadu, 2007; Oguche, 2014).
Leadership problems are explained merits and demerits marshaled out, at the same time, the areas which require particular problems of leadership pin-pointed for ineffectiveness. Comparisons of problems of leadership were projected lifting know the problem(s) which should not be a approached properly. Bureaucratic, management as concerned leadership are not left out. Consequently, techniques, theories and approaches to leadership are made comprehensive in the work through the aid of the intellects in leadership and management.
The application of the problems of leadership in any organization, be it service or production should not through some numerous drives such as being wicked, arrogant, rude, power fact of the force and not appeal to legitimate right. A bad leader can not transmit feeling and execution to the followers by the process that known as communication. In this institution, the staff instead of facing academics and problems of students they started mortgaging their jobs with acquiring wealth. There was no serious academic planning and execution, there was no coordination, supervision of staff and students was very poor and indiscipline become order of the day. Also this institution is facing the appointment of a rector. The major problem of leadership is not well addressed students and recognizes their problems. Various leadership problems of the institution have kept the status of the content of the institution in many shapes. This is because every leadership has its own made of operation that brings in good or bad to the people.
Therefore, in Veritas University, Abuja where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Problem of Leadership in Tertiary Institution using Federal Polytechnic Nekede as a case study.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that leadership style in some Nigerian Tertiary Institutions is supposed to motivate the staff into been productive and perform optimally. Most of Nigerian tertiary institutions are faced with some financial problems which impinge on administrative efficiency. Federal Polytechnic Nekede is never an exception. Federal Polytechnic Nekede has been hindered in the performance of its administrative functions as a result of many problems including the inadequacy of human and materials resources. Many of these problems include;
- Unrealistic Federal Government Promises; the Polytechnic management has made it clear that most of the Federal Government budget allocation made to the school have not been fully released and this has been a serious sources of problem that impinged most of the administrative function. Since, 1993 the school was taken over by the Federal Government as its name changed to Federal Polytechnic.
- Inadequate Handling of the Institution Fund: there has been widespread misappropriation of fund. This is witnessed in the series of administration which have come and gone internally and externally generated revenue of the school were most time squandered by the leader abandoned. This impinged institution activities thereby setting the hand of the clock back.
- Students Refused to Pay their Levies to the Union; students union government of the institution at various time initiated the idea of students of the school to paying students union fees levy to enhance efficient in the side of the affairs of the students.
As the government do not want to look into the affairs of student by upgrading their condition. At the department levels, association in the department, such as PASAN impose levy on the students till dulge these payment thereby bringing failure to the activities of the institution.
1.4 Aim and Objective of the Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Problem of Leadership in Tertiary Institution using Federal Polytechnic Nekede as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the type of leadership problems that is prevalent in the management level of Federal Polytechnic Nekede;
- To assess the strategies and motivational steps Federal Polytechnic Nekede leaders take to lead effectively;
- To correct the leadership mistake that impinged the success of Federal Polytechnic Nekede; and
- To proffer solutions to the identified problems impacting leadership in Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- How can leadership mistake that impinged the success of Federal Polytechnic Nekede be correct?
- What is the type of leadership problems that is prevalent in the management level of Federal Polytechnic Nekede?
- What are the strategies and motivational steps Federal Polytechnic Nekede leaders take to lead effectively?
- What are the possible solutions to the identified problems impacting leadership in Federal Polytechnic Nekede?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant leadership mistake that impinged the success of Federal Polytechnic Nekede
- H1: There is a significant leadership mistake that impinged the success of Federal Polytechnic Nekede
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant challenge affecting leadership in Federal Polytechnic Nekede
- H1: There is significant challenge affecting leadership in Federal Polytechnic Nekede
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this study will help a lot to address the improper attitude of the leader in the managerial cadre who has never had any opportunity of studying administration in the Tertiary Institution. This study is meant to give wrong correction to the low knowledge and porous problems that make them not to accomplish the objectives.
This study finding will also make the leader to know the type of leadership which should be good for their people as the responses of various groups concerning various leadership problem explained.
The leaders will understand from this finding as it will make them take note on their problems which the subordinates could not positively respond to and while it improves the leadership inequalities inculcated by the leaders and makes the organization concerned a failure one.
Significantly, the findings go further to tell the leaders the problems that facing many institutions particularly Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Investigation of the Problem of Leadership in Tertiary Institution using Federal Polytechnic Nekede as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
Leadership Style: As use in this study, implies the way which influence process is exercised. It is the characteristics ways in which the leadership relates to his subordinates or employees.
Effectiveness: This implies the ability of an organization in achieving its objective. It is doing the right thing.
Efficiency: This is the optimum level o9f a given resources which the organization may fully utilize to produce a given unit of output/ waste. However, it is act of doing things right.
Employee Performance: This is the employee's behavior directed towards the requirement of the job as well as productivity and profitability of the organization. It involves the employee utilized potentials towards attainment of the organizational goal.
