Journal of Global Economics, Management and Business Research

This paper focuses on comparative study of the work behaviour in Nigeria’s public and private enterprises: an empirical approach. The research design for this study is the descriptive survey and the major instrument for data collection is a five point likert scale questionnaire titled comparative analysis of work behaviour questionnaire (CAWBQ). The population for this study consists of all personnel of the three public profit oriented parastatals and three private firms drawn one each from Enugu, Imo and Abia state. The total population therefore is 658 personnel. The researchers used the Taro Yamene’s method to select a sample size of 249. The statistical tool used for data analysis is the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the 20.0 version of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The paper discovered that there is significant difference in the work behavior between those that work in Nigerian public and private sectors. This paper further show that while innovative work behavior is seen more in the Nigerian private sector, the public sector manifest counterproductive work behavior more. The study therefore recommends that in order to boost innovative work behavior in the public sector and reduce counterproductive work behavior, there is need for the government to redefine the operational model of profit oriented parastatals from that of core civil service, this is to ensure that they enjoy autonomy that will enable them to bring personal creative ideas to bear and respond swiftly to market changes and maximize opportunities. Secondly, the staff reward system should follow a competitive salary scale rather than civil service scale; this will help to minimize the exposure of staff members to counterproductive work behavior.