UNRESTRAINED JOB PRESSURE AND PUBLIC SECTOR EFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

ABSTRACT

This study examined unrestrained job pressure and public sector efficiency in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. The objective of the study was to determine if workload pressure has significant influence on performance in the public sector. The study used the survey method by administering copies of structured questionnaire to two hundred and eighty-two (282) nursing staff in Benin City. The data for the study were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean, correlation and multiple regression techniques with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The empirical results of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between workload pressure and public sector performance at 5% level of significance, role conflict also had a significant relationship with efficiency. The study recommended that the management of hospitals should cultivate the habit of minimizing excess workloads for their employees because excess workload which will invariably leads to workload pressure on employees is capable of influencing employee performance. Also, the study recommended that the management of hospitals within and outside Edo State should always invite their employees, who think that they are being given jobs that are in contradiction with each other and clarify their roles because role conflict is a stress variable that can influence employee performance. Finally, the study recommended that management of hospitals and policy makers should introduce stress management technique and employee assistance program for early identification and intervention on problems that would lead to stress and affect employee performance at the hospitals.