CHAPTER ONE
1.1 GROUND OF THE STUDY
In recent times, workers have been undergoing the dilemma of retrenchment exercise. Currently, in Vogue inNigeria, which poses economic and social problems.
Retrenchment started inNigeriaas a result of economic recession in the early 80s. The whole worlds have been going through a recession. But theNigeriacase has been a very peculiar situation. It can be seen in editorial “agony of retrenchment” from the Personnel Office of the Ministry of Education,EnuguState.
The Ministry, before the last retrenchment was having a population of about 350 workers and out of that number, 40 percent was retrenched. But after a panel sitting which constituted the State Congress, 20 percent were called back leaving the other 20 percent workers disengaged.
With this, there have been growing concerns by researchers authors and workers over retrenchment of workers and its effects on the morale of workers. To this end, authors have come up with alternatives to retrenchment.
1.2 PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT MATTERS
The problems of retrenchment of workers include –
1. Retrenchment of workers promotes the level of poverty in the country, which is contrary to poverty alleviation programme introduced by the government.
2. Throwing thousands of workers into the congested labour market will exacerbate constitution and multiply the crime rate in the country.
3. It increases unemployment and unfavourable balance of payment.
1.3 PROBLEMS THAT THE STUDY WILL BE CONCERNED WITH SOLUTION
The study is chiefly designed to find out the effect of retrenchment exercise on the morale of the remaining workforce in the Ministry of Education. Specifically the following purposes to be identified are:
i. To find out why retrenchment is being embarked upon.
ii. To ascertain who is to be retrenched and the criteria for selecting them.
iii. To know what the workers think or feel about retrenchment exercise.
iv. To find out the effect of this exercise on the workers moral.
v. How it affects their performance and attitude to work.
vi. To find out the social and economic consequences of retrenchment of workers.
1.4 THE IMPORTANT OF STUDYING THE AREA
1. This study will have documentary that will be of immense help to employers so they can have authenticated facts that will form a bias for the retrenchment of workers.
2. It will serve as a literature to researchers and students in related areas or field. The work will help to enlighten employees, personnel officers and management on their jobs.
3. Equally, administration government will find the research work highly valuable, as it would aid them in taking some crucial organizational decisions.
1.5 DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS
According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, retrenchment is defined as an exercise carried out to reduce ones expenses. Most human beings score low when it comes to agility and effectiveness especially in handling a job that is not theirs (if it is not their private business venture); being lackadaisical as it concerns work. They dislike work and would want to avoid it if possible. Because of this inherent dislike for work, people are most of the time forced coerced. Controlled, direct and threatened with punishment in order to get them put forth adequate effort towards the achievement of organizational objectives.
In view of this, retrenchment can be defined as a government policy to forcefully reduce or cut down the number of workers in its parastatal and hence reduce expenses or cost due most the time to worsening economic situation and times the lackadaisical and corrupt practices on the part of the workers. Retrenchment is a pull back and leaving up in the face of adverse condition.
It is seen as an exercise carried out to cut down expenses. It could be said to be dismissal, disengagement of workers when a defined or specific job causes to exist. It also occurs when a worker is subjected to a compulsory retirement with or without entitlement or a forceful removal of a person from his or her designated work or position.
Edict No. 7, section 22 of the Ministry of Education, Enugu State attributes retrenchment as an act carried out due to gross insubordination of the part of workers in relation to constituted authority.
REFERENCES
Adeleke, A. (1983): Towards Effective Utilization of Human Resources. Business Times, Vol 9; No. 66, January 4th .
Mouo, Adamson (1992): Causes of the Purge. Daily Times, June Vol. 15, No. 38.
Onwudegwu, O. 91984): Consequences of the Ongoing. Daily TimesLagos); Vol. 5, No. 39.
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