Organisational politics job performance employee utilization civil service Edo State

This study examined the Influence of Organizational Politics on Employee Job Performance and Utilization in the Edo State Civil Service. Organisational politics, which often manifest through favoritism, nepotism, manipulation of procedures, and unequal distribution of opportunities, have become a significant concern in public sector organisations, with implications for employee effectiveness and optimal use of human resources. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and utilized a structured questionnaire to collect data from selected employees of the Edo State Civil Service. A total of 100 respondents were sampled using appropriate sampling techniques. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that various forms of organisational politics are prevalent in the Edo State Civil Service, including influence of personal relationships on work assignments, promotion decisions based on favoritism rather than merit, and selective enforcement of rules and policies. The results further showed that organisational politics negatively affect employees’ job performance by reducing morale, commitment, and productivity, while increasing workplace tension and dissatisfaction. In addition, the study found that organisational politics contribute to the underutilization of capable employees, as skills and competencies are often overlooked in task allocation and career advancement. The study concluded that organisational politics have a significant adverse effect on both job performance and employee utilization in the Edo State Civil Service. It therefore recommended that management should promote transparency, fairness, and merit-based practices in personnel decisions, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure effective communication to minimize negative political behaviors and enhance employee performance and utilization.