Oluchi favour NWOBIA

This study examined the influence of patriarchy on women’s participation in public administration in Nigeria. Despite constitutional provisions and policy frameworks advocating gender equality, women remain underrepresented in administrative and decision-making positions. The research sought to identify the extent to which patriarchal norms, socio-cultural barriers, and institutional practices affect women’s involvement in public administration, and to assess the effectiveness of existing gender equity measures. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 146 respondents drawn from selected public institutions across Nigeria. The instrument contained items measured on a five-point Likert scale, and the responses were analysed usingdescriptive and inferential statistical techniques with the aid of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis. Findings revealed that patriarchal norms and socio-cultural barriers significantly hinder women’s participation in public administration (r = -0.684, p < 0.01). Institutional policies were found to have a moderate mitigating effect but were not sufficiently enforced to counterbalance entrenched gender biases. The study concludes that patriarchy continues to influence the structural and operational patterns of Nigeria’s public service, thereby limitingwomen’s opportunities for leadership and representation. The study recommends that government institutions strengthen gender mainstreaming frameworks, enforce equity- driven recruitment and promotion policies, and implement continuous sensitization programs aimed at challenging patriarchal attitudes within the public sector. These measures are necessary to achieve a more inclusive and gender-balancedadministrative system in Nigeria