EFFECT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE ON ACADEMIC STAFF IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (FUT) MINNA, NIGER STATE

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of transformational leadership styles on academic staff at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger State. Transformational leadership is a leadership approach that inspires and motivates followers to achieve beyond their expectations, fostering intellectual stimulation, individualised consideration, inspirational motivation, and idealised influence. Academic staff motivation plays a vital role in enhancing job satisfaction, productivity, and overall performance in the higher education sector. This study utilises a survey research design, employing a questionnaire-based survey to collect data from academic staff members at FUT Minna. Maslow's hierarchy of needs was adopted, and the study revealed that the application of transformational leadership styles significantly influences the job satisfaction of academic staff members. Transformational leadership is also characterised by leaders who inspire and motivate their followers to achieve higher levels of performance and commitment. Among the recommendations were that the majority of respondents acknowledged the positive impact of transformational leadership styles on job satisfaction among academic staff at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna and that the university administration should invest in comprehensive training and development programmes for academic administrators. These programmes should focus on enhancing their transformational leadership skills, enabling them to better inspire, motivate, and support their teams.