The effects of the Quota system on Performance management in Nigerian Civil Service

Chapter 1: Introduction
Background of the study
Nigeria is considered as a cosmopolitan and one of the most populated countries in Africa with an approximate 39 semi-autonomous federal states. The Nigeria government has undertaken several initiatives that are aimed at increasing the level of equality in various government initiatives such as deployments, appointments, recruitment and education as well as access to various limited resources in the country. One such initiative is the Quota system that aims at enhancing equality in the distribution of government resources (Agbalajobi, 2010). However, as postulated by Briggs (2007), the quota system has largely deviated from its fundamental aim of enhancing equality and is considered as a tool aimed at perpetuating incompetence in Nigeria public service. The same analysis is also depicted in a study undertaken by BOG Nwanolue and Chidubem (2012), when they stated that the quota systems has escalated incompetence in the Nigeria public sector in the sense that most appointments are motivated by enhancing equality as opposed to being based on merit. Additionally, as postulated by Bayo (2012), the quota system has led to low levels of productivity in the Nigeria public service. The same analysis is also postulated by Aluede, Idogho and Imonikhe (2012), when they stated that the quota system has reduced the levels of productivity in most government institutions. Additionally, as postulated by Bello (2012), the quota system has led to poor public service performance a factor attributed to the fact that the quota system leads to employment of incompetent staff.
However, despite the disadvantages of the quota system, the Nigeria government continues to promote the quota system and there are little initiatives that have been undertaken to investigate the effects of the quota system on productivity in the Nigeria public sector (Krook & Norris, 2014). The above analysis presents a major gap that was addressed in the research undertaking. For instance, the research undertaking was aimed at addressing the gap and limitation characterized with effective application of the Quota system through evaluating the effects of the quota on the productivity levels in the Nigeria public sector.
Research aim
The research aims at evaluating the effectiveness of the quota system in Nigeria public sector and the effects of the quota system on the performance management in the Nigeria public sector. Also the research aims at evaluating the various strategic initiatives that can be undertaken by various public sector organizations in Nigeria in order to reduce the negative effects of the quota system.
Research objectives
The following objectives were developed in the undertaking of the research:
 To determine the effectiveness of the Quota system in the Nigeria public sector
 To investigate the various impacts of the Quota system on the productivity of Nigeria public sector
 To determine the various strategic initiatives that can be undertaken by public sector organizations in order to reduce the quota system.
Research questions
The following research questions were developed in the undertaking of the research:
 How effective is the Quota system in the Nigeria public sector?
 What are the impacts of the Quota system on the productivity of Nigeria public sector?
 What are the strategic initiatives that can be undertaken by public sector organizations in order to reduce the quota system?
 
Justification for the research
Undertaking the research was of vital importance in the sense that it will offer an insight in understanding the effectiveness of the quota system. For instance, understanding the effectiveness of the quota system will eventually enable organizations in the Nigeria public sector have an understanding of the impacts of the quota system on the performance management (Fajana, Owoyemi, Elegbede & Gbajumo-Sheriff, 2011). Understanding the above constructs will enable public sector organizations in Nigeria to adopt various initiatives that are aimed towards reducing the negative impacts of the quota system and improve on productivity. In essence, undertaking the research was of vital importance in the sense that it provided a foundational framework for various public organizations to develop and implement strategies aimed at leveraging on the advantages of the Quota system while at the same time minimizing the negative impacts of the quota system (Metumara, 2010). On the other hand, undertaking the research was of vital importance to the citizens in the sense that through improved quota system implementation, citizens will be able to obtain high levels of public service delivery as well as increased transparency, and equity in the distribution of public resources (Speer, 2012). In summary, undertaking the research will enable public organizations develop and implement strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the quota system in order to increase productivity, effective performance management, excellent public service, and increased transparency and equitable distribution of state resources.
Methodology outline
The research that was undertaken was based on a quantitative research design in the sense that the main form of data collection was undertaken through the use of questionnaires. The choice of the quantitative research design was based on various advantages that are associated with quantitative designs. For instance, according to Hussein (2015), some of the advantages associated with quantitative design include the following; quantitative research designs emphasize on objectivity, are easy to undertake in terms of data analysis and summary, and that quantitative research designs are appropriate when collecting data from a large number of research participants. The research that was undertaken employed a total of 100 participants that were selected from a sample population of 150 participants recruited from 5 public sector organizations in Nigeria. The selections of the 100 participants were selected using the simple random sampling probabilistic approach. The choice of simple random sampling was based on a number of advantages associated with simple random sampling. For example, as postulated by Levy and Lemeshow (2013), simple random sampling is a cheap and cost effective sampling 1choice of simple random sampling was based on a number of advantages associated with simple random sampling. For example, as postulated by Bendat and Piersol (2011), simple random sampling is a cheap and cost effective sampling method.
Additionally, as postulated by Levy and Lemeshow (2013) simple random sampling consumes less time and is characterized with low levels of bias in the sense that every member of the population is characterized with equal chances of being selected in the final population. Additionally, the research was based on the positivist research philosophy which emphasizes on quantitative studies. Data that was collected was analyzed through the use of one sample t-test analysis. The one sample t-test analysis was used in order to determine the statistical significance of the participants responses based on the value of p and t obtained. Moreover, the analysis was based on the rejection or adoption of hypothesis that was developed based on values of p and t obtained from the statistical analysis (Satorra & Bentler, 2011).
Additionally, part of the methodology entailed the process of undertaking ethical considerations in the sense that the research employed the use of human subjects as research participants. The following ethical considerations were considered in the process of undertaking the research: The participation in the research undertaking was based on a voluntary basis. The participants were allowed to participate in the research on a voluntary basis and no solicitation and monetary incentives were advanced to the participants. Additionally, the participants were also allowed to terminate their participation in the research at any stage of the research without giving any notice whatsoever. Moreover, various strategies were undertaken in order to safeguard the participants against data privacy. For example, the data privacy of participants was be guaranteed in the sense that the data that was collected from the research undertaking was used for the intended purposes and no data that was made available to unauthorized third parties. Additionally, the participants were allowed to view the results of the study after the completion of the research undertaking and after the process of undertaking the research, the questionnaires that were used in collecting data were destroyed through burning. Moreover, in order to increase the effectiveness of participants’ responses and reduce the level of participants’ unwillingness to participate in the research, the researcher made sure that the participants were informed about the overall purpose, duration and the objectives of the research that was undertaken. This ensured that the participants did fill in the questionnaire in the specified time frame and were aware of the objectives and the importance of undertaking the research.

Limitations of the study
The main limitations that were associated with the research undertaking were the application of the research findings as well as other physical limitations in the undertaking of the study. For instance, the research aimed at evaluating the effect of quota system on the Nigeria public sector. This is a major limitation in the application of the research findings in the sense that the research results can only be applied in the Nigerian context and not in any other country that practices the quota system. Additionally, other limitations that were encountered in the undertaking of the research include the following; ignorance from the research participants as well as unwillingness of the research participants to provide the required information. However, in order to reduce ignorance and unwillingness among the research participants, the researcher informed the participants of the overall purpose and importance of undertaking the research.
Organization of the study
The research is organized into six distinct sections that are typical of any research undertaking. Chapter one is organized as the introduction chapter and contains information regarding the background of the study, research aims, objectives and questions, justification for undertaking the research, limitations and methodological overview. Chapter two is organized as the literature review section and contains an elaborate analysis of the various empirical evidence that have been undertaken in the past regarding the research questions. Specifically, the literature review evaluates the main themes that are depicted in literature and how the themes will aid in the undertaking of the research. Chapter three is organized as the methodology chapter and contains an evaluation of the methodological approach that was undertaken. Specifically, the methodology section evaluates the research design, the research philosophy, research tradition, the instruments used in data collection, the data analysis method used, sampling procedures and the ethical considerations that were undertaken. Chapter four is organized as the data summary chapter that details the summary of the quantitative data that was collected. Chapter five is organized as the discussion chapter based on the discussion of the quantitative data summarized in chapter four. The last chapter is organized as chapter six which is mainly composed of conclusion and recommendation. The conclusion part mainly summarizes the major findings in the research undertaken while the recommendation part provides recommendations based on the major findings of the research.
 
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