MOTIVATION AND SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

Abstract

Available statistical evidence has proved the Nigerian health system ineffective in the face of
service delivery. The World Health Organization (2000) ranked the Nigerian Health System 187th
out of 191 WHO member countries. The indices shows that Nigeria still ranks high in the list of
countries with high maternal and infant mortality rates with a ratio of 545 per 100,000 live births
on the maternal mortality index and 75 per 1000 live births on the infant mortality index. Using
the content and descriptive analytical method, the paper revealed a lacuna existing between the
health policy and constitutional policy issues, corruption, professional favouritism, financial
inadequacies, facility provision and management, manpower procurement and motivation, other
environmental factors all of which have leadership implications were responsible for the poor
service delivery seen in the sector. Appropriate recommendations were made on the strength of
these findings. The paper therefore concludes that there is a strong relationship between
sustainable leadership and motivation.