Workplace Redundancy and Retrenchment in Nigeria’s Public Sector: Evidence from Mdas Gombe State

ABSTRACT:

This paper investigates redundancy and retrenchment in Nigeria’s public sector, drawing on evidence from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Gombe State. Grounded in labour process theory and the political economy of work, it argues that workforce reductions are shaped by institutional inefficiencies, neoliberal reforms, and fiscal austerity. Rather than purely economic decisions, these practices reflect shifting state priorities and power asymmetries. Redundancy policies often exacerbate inequality, weaken employment security, and erode worker identity. The paper advocates for socially responsive employment frameworks that reconcile organizational efficiency with equity, worker protection, and the broader goals of decent work in developing economies.

Keywords: Workplace redundancy; Retrenchment; Public sector employment; Labor process theory; Neoliberal reforms; Employment relations; Nigeria.