Leadership Openness and Employee Commitment in Public Health Institutions in South-South Nigeria: Assessing the Moderating Role of Organizational Culture

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether leadership openness significantly influences employee commitment and whether organizational culture strengthens or weakens this relationship. A cross sectional survey research design was adopted within the positivist research paradigm. The target population comprised doctors, nurses and midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and technicians, community health workers, and administrative and supervisory staff working in public health institutions across the six states of South-South Nigeria. A total of 381 respondents provided data for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert scale. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and moderated regression analysis through the PROCESS Macro for SPSS. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between leadership openness and employee commitment, indicating that transparent communication, participatory decision-making, and leader accessibility enhance employees’ dedication to their institutions. The study also found that organizational culture significantly moderates this relationship, such that the positive effect of leadership openness on employee commitment becomes stronger in institutions characterised by supportive and collaborative cultures. The study concludes that combining open leadership practices with supportive organisational cultures is essential for strengthening workforce commitment in public health institutions. The study recommends that public health institutions institutionalise transparent leadership practices through regular staff engagement and participatory decision making processes. It also recommends strengthening collaborative organisational cultures through interdisciplinary teamwork, staff recognition, and continuous professional development initiatives.