Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the leadership behaviors and leadership outcomes of Nigerian presidents since her independence, as perceived by presidential scholars/biographers or authors, and to determine the relationship between leadership behaviors as well as public administrative skills and leadership outcomes with the goal of establishing leadership development needs. The study also explored differences in transformational and transactional leadership between civilian and military presidents and how age and educational level may be associated with leadership outcomes. Theoretical Framework. This research was primarily anchored on transformational leadership theory and the behavioral theories of leadership. The situational-contingency theories of leadership, the implicit theory of leadership, and the follower attributions theory of leadership were also the theories embedded in the research. Methodology. This study employed a nonexperimental, quantitative research design to examine the leadership behaviors as well as public administrative skills and leadership outcomes of Nigerian presidents. The leadership behaviors were assessed in three categories: transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant using the full range Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ Form 5X), rater version, as well as a researcher-developed supplemental questionnaire, termed Public Administrative Skills Questionnaire. Findings. Civilian presidents demonstrated a higher level of transformational and transactional leadership as well as a higher level of leadership outcomes than military presidents. High scores on public administrative skills correlated positively with leadership outcomes. The variable, educational level, depicted a higher positive relationship with leadership outcomes than the variable, age assuming office. Conclusions and Recommendations. This study shed light on key information regarding transformational and transactional leadership behaviors of Nigerian presidents, both military and civilian, since independence. The baseline data obtained from this study could be used as a basis for promoting continued civilian leadership in Nigeria. The study participants were limited to presidential scholars/biographers and authors. It is recommended that future studies be expanded to include a wide variety of leadership characteristics as well as participants from other academic disciplines and other industrial segments to see how those studies would compare to the current one. This will facilitate a wide acceptance of leadership behaviors, public administrative skills and leadership outcomes of the presidents.