Leadership style Worker efficiency Civil service performance Godwin Obaseki Edo State Public sector reforms Employee productivity Organizational performance Institutional factors Policy continuity Bureaucratic processes

This study explores the relationship between leadership style and worker efficiency in Nigeria, focusing on Governor Obaseki's reforms in the Edo State civil service. Using a descriptive survey research design, data, were collected from 100 civil servants across four ministries through a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that Governor Obaseki's leadership approach was generally viewed positively, with a mean score of 23.63 (SD = 5.64), indicating a. moderately favourable perception of his reforms. However, statistical analysis ft = 2.604, p = 0.197) showed no significant difference in worker productivity between those who worked under Obaseki's administration and those who served under previous leaderships. This suggests that while leadership style does influence worker attitudes, other structural and institutional factors—such as policy continuity, bureaucratic processes, and institutional memory—play a more defining role in shaping efficiency in the civil service.
The study highlights the importance of leadership in fostering a productive work environment but also underscores the need for broader systemic reforms to sustain long-term improvements. While effective leadership can motivate employees and enhance service delivery, achieving lasting efficiency requires a stable institutional framework, clear policies, and adequate resources. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening structural reforms, ensuring policy continuity, investing in leadership development, and improving employee motivation through better support and incentives. These measures can help create a more resilient and efficient civil service, capable of delivering sustainable public sector improvements.