PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

The study examined performance management problems and prospects and their relationship with effective and competitive service delivery in the Public sector in Nigeria. The study adopted a theoretical and descriptive analysis of available literature and an empirical study of public policy management of cosmopolitan Local Government in Lagos State using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that there is a significance relationship between a well-established performance mechanism individual and organizational productivity and efficient and effective service delivery. The findings also showed that sustained performance management system monitoring and feedback, when applied in the developmental context, facilitate employee professional growth, synergy with developmental goals, retention and development of organizational and productivity culture. It was found that the reason for poor performance of the Nigerian Public Sector is embedded in the Workers' attitude to work as they perceive government work as no man's work. They display tendencies to loot and high level of lackadaisical behaviours there greatly reducing service efficiencies productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, the study recommended that public sector employees groups and teams be reoriented and continuously developed on the essence of job commitment and engagement with resultant high level of proficiency, competency and service delivery for creative work and sustainable national development

EMPLOYEES' RELATIONS STRATEGIES AND COMPETITIVENESS OF SELECTED SME's IN LAGOS STATE

The performance and competitiveness of any organization including small and medium scale organizations are determined by the effective organization and operation of resources including human, financial, technological and organizational capital. These also depend on the various organizational and business strategies/action plans including employment relations strategies. Collective relationship strategies can be used to enhance the organizational outcomes and bottom lines of SMEs. The analysis of the effects of these collective relationship strategies 0n the competiveness and productivity of selected SMEs is the focus of the study. The study adopted a survey research design; 65 selected SMEs across the economic sectors in Alaba market, Ikorodu and Ikeja market in Lagos State. A random sampling technique was used to select 250 respondents across the business owners, supervisor, managers and employee categories. The main instruments of data collection were the questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as simple percentage, and frequency tables were used in the presentation and analysis of the data, while the relevant hypotheses were tested using correlation coefficients by the application of SPSS. Four null hypotheses were tested. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between employee relations strategies and the various dimensions of productivity, innovation and competitiveness of SMEs. The research recommended that the institutionalization and effective implementation of employee relations strategies that strongly vocationally technically involved and engaged entrepreneurs and employees of SMEs have important role to play in productivity, innovations, performance, growth and competitiveness of SMEs sector. Good industrial relations and employee relations strategies as derived from the business strategies and functional tactics are fundamental sources of quality innovation and market expansion for SMEs Products and serves in the context of overcoming economic recession and engineering suitable growth and development

EFFECT OF THE NEW PENSION SCHEME ON SUSTAINABLE WELFARE AND POST-SERVICE LIFE IMPROVEMENT OF RETIREES IN LAGOS

E fficient and effective public and private sector organizations arc expected to see to the maximum well-being of their employees. That is, in and post service and especially for employees that have contributed meaningfully to the achievement of the organizational goals. Part of such management responsibility is payment of post service compensation or pension which provides the employees the security and right that gives guaranteed income on retirement or to dependants on death. The study attempts" comparative analysis of the old and new pension scheme in Nigeria and the extent to which the new scheme has significantly influenced the welfare and life improvement of the retirees in Lagos the commercial hub of Nigeria. The study adopts the survey research design. Two hypotheses are tested using chi-square (X2) test at 0.05level of significance. Major findings show that a lot of defects exist in the old scheme and that the administration and collection of pensions by prisoners have been very poor. There is a significant relationship between the operation of the new pension scheme and the welfare of pensionners(X2 Cal= 33.27, X2 Tab= 12.59), and their life improvement after service (X2 Cal 27.97. X2 Tab 12.59). In conclusion, it is recommended that much attention be given to public education and enlightenment of all stakeholders for them to be conversant with the administration of the new scheme and proper measures put in place to guarantee safety of the funds. These should include sustained capacity of building of officials and investment strategies. The new scheme should be shielded from the effect of aspects of the highly corrupt and unethical public governance and economic management systems in Nigeria and encumbered in strong strategic plan, long-term economic development, sustainable welfare of retirees and inclusive strategy