EMPLOYEES’ PERCEPTION OF DOWNSIZING AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO WORK IN SELECTED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN NIGERIA

A.T. Ayinde and A.A. Akanni

Department of Psychology,

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Email: adedickson@yahoo.com; bimakanni@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study identified and assessed the extent of the implementation of downsizing policy in the affected public establishments. It also determined the impact of downsizing on employees’ commitment to work in selected public sector establishments in Nigeria.  The study employed descriptive cross-sectional design and a Multi- stage sampling technique was adopted. Purposive sampling technique was used to select six Federal government establishments in Abuja and Lagos State. Using stratified random sampling, a total of 604 respondents comprising (58.9%) males and (41.1%) females were selected from the six federal government establishments affected by downsizing. Data were collected through the administration of standardized psychological tests: General Perception of Downsizing (GPD) and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). Data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics.