Date of Conferral

8-6-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Lori Demeter

Abstract

Toxic leadership has been shown to be present in Nigeria, promoting negative consequences for organizations and adverse effects on employee performance. However, how toxic leadership behaviors impact Nigerian Army operations and the performance of personnel have not been studied. Exploring toxic leadership in the Nigerian Army is important because the way in which leaders exercise influence determines the effects it has on followers. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of Nigerian Army personnel who had worked as subordinates of individuals who exhibited toxic leadership traits and its impact on their performance. The theoretical framework that was used was the multiple streams framework, which addresses the process of bringing problems to light to formulate appropriate policy options. Through purposive sampling, 20 participants were interviewed face-to-face using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted by manually transcribing audio recorded data and conducting thematic analysis via a two-stage coding process. Two themes that emerged were the manner in which the problem was defined and how solutions were provided. The findings indicated that toxic leadership was not prevalent in the Nigerian Army but whenever it occurred, it had a disproportionate negative effect. The implications for positive social change are that it can potentially inform the manner in which the Nigerian Army views toxic leadership, thereby promoting the formulation of policies and programs to improve employee morale and retention.

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