Transformational and Transactional Leadership in the Local Government:Case of Enugu (Nigerija) and Šiauliai (Lithuania) ; Vietos savivalda ir lyderystė: Enugu (Nigerija) ir Šiaulių (Lietuva) atvejis

Abstract

Considering the relevance of local government administrations in bringing governments' presence closer to people in the grassroots, the need for sound leadership features cannot be undermined. This research presents an empirical study carried out in both Siauliai City municipality and Enugu City between 2015 and 2016, which was aimed at examining transformational and transactional leadership features in the local government councils of the two cities aforementioned. The survey research method was employed in gathering the primary data used for the study - through questionnaire administration and expert oral interview. The comparative analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, frequency counts and graphs. Based on the outcome of the results, the study concludes that transformational leadership features are more pronounced in Siauliai City municipality than in Enugu city. It was also discovered that there are intense leadership tussles in local government councils which experts suggest may lead to blackmails. It was recommended that local government leaders should operate open-door policy regime where there is unrestricted access to information, opportunity for citizens and lower cadre functionaries to make contributions in policy formulation and implementation among others, which are among the features of transformational leadership.