THE IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN NIGERIAN ORGANIZATION

ABSTRACT Employee retention remains a critical challenge for many organizations in Nigeria due to increasing workforce mobility, competitive labour markets, and evolving employee expectations.  This study examines the impact of transformational leadership on employee retention in Nigerian organizations.  Transformational leadership is characterized by inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and idealized influence, has been widely recognized as a leadership style that enhances employee commitment and organizational loyalty.  The study explores how transformational leadership practices influence employees’ intention to remain within their organizations by fostering a supportive work environment, enhancing job satisfaction, and promoting organizational commitment.  The study used a quantitative research approach with data collected through structured questionnaires administered to employees across selected Nigerian organizations.  Statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis are employed to examine the relationship between transformational leadership significantly contributes to higher levels of employee engagement, motivation, and job satisfaction, which in turn reduce turnover intentions and improve retention rates.  The study concludes that organizations in Nigeria can improve employee retention by adopting transformational leadership practices that emphasize employee’s development, recognition, and participative decision-making.  The research contributes to the growing body of literature on leadership and human resource management in developing economies and provides practical recommendations for managers and organizational leaders seeking to build a stable and committed workforce.