Application of the Expectancy Theory and Labour Laws as Catalysts for Optimal Performance in Workplaces in Nigeria

Abstract

Labour leaders, as workers generally, are nowadays facing more challenges in the course of performing their expected roles at workplaces. One of the notable challenges faced by the labour could be traced to the application of the Labour Act which prescribes the principal or overriding purpose of establishing rules and regulations governing workplaces. Therefore, the study examined certain aspects of the Nigerian labour act in relation to optimum performance at workplaces. It is assumed that competence correlates performance. Whereas if the lack of competence in the area of application of labour Act could not be easily detected, an average labour/worker in organised industries would have performance at low ebb. In conceptualising performance therefore, the study examined some extant provisions of laws labour act, followed by the study of the expectancy theory model if same could be applied to impart knowledge for the immediacy of labour act towards optimum performance by the workers at the workplace level. The population for the study consisted one-third of all the registered unionised industries attributed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The main research instruments were two: Labour Act Tools (LAT) scale and Union Expectancy Theory Model (VETM) scale. Self-developed scales, using the essential provisions of the labour act, existing rules and regulations, were pilot tested using split-half method and they gave the reliability coefficient r = 0.75 for the LAT scale, and r = 0.67 for the VETM scale. The study revealed that labour Acts and other extant labour laws as examined in the study were potent factors in enhancing the effectiveness of the labour in performing at workplaces. Further, the outcome recommended the application of the expectancy theory model, which could timeously motivate labour to acquire knowledge in the area of labour law towards optimum performance in their overriding purpose of unionised representative activities.