FACTORS INFLUENCING CIVIL SERVANTS CHOICE OF RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES IN KWARA STATE
BY
IBRAHEEM, Tajudeen Olanrewaju
Abstract
The study investigated the factors influencing civil servants choice of
recreation al activities in Kwara state. Six hundred and forty four (644)
civil servants responded to questionnaire called the “involvement of
civil servants in recreation. (ICSR) “ which was design to elicit subject
responses on factors influencing their choice of recreational activities
such as age, gender, equipments, facilities, nature of official duty and
religion. Analysis was based on Pearson Moment Correction Coefficient to describe data collected. The findings revealed that no
significant relationship existed between gender and equipment while
there existed significant relationship between age , facilities, nature of
official duty, religion and the choice of recreational activities of civil
servants in Kwara state. Results generally revealed that civil servants in
Kwara state were not adequately participating in recreation. Based on
this reason, it was recommended that all civil servants should know
that participation in recreation ,has no age limit and devoid of gender
discrimination. Government service should be planned to give room for
participation in recreation, equipment and facilities should also be
provided. Religion bodies/organizations can also embark on
enlightenment campaign on the importance of recreation.
_________________________________________________________
Introduction
By nature human beings are created to enjoy play, and engage in
recreational activities and games during their leisure. Such activities are part
of history of man which range from both passive and active undertakings
which are done voluntarily without economic reasons.
Ironically, the present five days per week of work for Nigeria workers
gave room for free Saturdays and Sundays for recreational pursuit,
statistically, it means one hundred and four(104) free days are in year
excluding public holidays, annual leaves and free working days are meant
for recreational activities. Those abundant holidays led to the great
reduction in the working days , all these provide enough time for civil
servants to recreate.
In every organizations, the attitudes of the workers towards recreation vary
from one person to the other, and their choice is predetermined by some
factors. According to Farkash (2002) , the type of work , hours of work,
availability of equipment and facilities, innovate work and invention and
exposure to modern technological system determined the attitude of
workers towards recreational activities . In the same vein, Omoruan (1996)
listed such factors to include the age, gender, state of health, equipment
and facilities, geographical features and climatic condition, social and
economical factors and religion institution.
The workers may prefer to engage in overtime working full well that
their salary will be increased. In is not only by giving bonus or increment to
workers that can serve as an incentive to them. The provision of employee
recreation centers can motivate the workers (Farkash, 2000). If the family
possesses numerous articles related to recreation, the child are also more
likely to be participants, likewise employers and employees.
However, every generations had realized the need for recreation to curb
anti-social behaviours in our society. George & McCullick (1999) and
Olowoyo (1986) opined in their divergent opinion that increase In leisure
time that is not properly utilized can be seen in the high incidence of drop
out and delinquency, the grave problem of drug abuse and alcoholism
among young people, the unrest on the college campuses and in the street,
frequent strike actions by labour unions, and increasing problems of mental
illness.
It has been observed that most of the Kwara state civil servants, fall
within the group of people who spent a lot of time to work in the office and
often subjected to a lot of boredom, fatigue and tension. It is not unlikely
however, that recreational activities will provide excellent means of
relaxation for the Kwara state civil servants in other to get rid of
accumulated tension from work. Burn-up surplus energy to enjoy their free
hours and live a healthy and balance life. However, this research work is
design to examine the factors influencing civil servants choice of
recreational activities in Kwara state. Specifically, to test the following
hypotheses.
Hypotheses
1. There is not significant relationship between age and then choice of
recreational activities of Kwara state civil servants.
2. There is no significant relationship between gender and the choice of
recreational activities of Kwara state civil servants.
3. There is no significant relationship between availability of
equipments and choice of recreational activities of Kwara state civil
servants.
4. There is no significant relationship between availability of facilities
and choice of recreational activities of Kwara state civil servants..
5. There is no significant relationship between nature of official duty and
choice of relationship activities of Kwara state civil servants.
6. There is no significant relationship activities of Kwara state civil
servants.
HYPOTHESES TESTING USING PEARSON PRODUCT MOMENT
CORRELETION COEFFICIENT (r)
Table 1 results of the factors influencing the choice of recreational
activities of the Kwara state civil servants.
N=644
Variable
X
Y
Ex2
Ey2
EXY
Age
Gender
Equipment
Facilities
Nature of
official
duty
Religion
1147
1045
3566
418
988
2543
1680
2126
310
1393
2653
1874
22714
2033
1706
10073
5074
7658
999
3535
4158
2736
11302
1125
2352
R
Decision
obtained on
hypothesis
0.993
Rejected
0.423
Accepted
0.0347
Accepted
1.078
Rejected
0.660
Rejected
970
1503
1706
397
1991
0.993
Rejected
Discussion
df=643 @=0.05, Table value=0.195
I could be deduced form the finding of this study that naturally ageing brings
about such physical and physiological changes in the body that impede
performance. The fact still remains that, age limits civil servants to particular
recreational activities. In line with Omoruan (1996) who discovered that age
has been found to be one barriers to the learning of skills which were not
learn at younger age. Similarly, many aged civil servants thought that
participation in recreational has age limit contrary to conclusion made by
Troll & Tuner (1994) that old people who still engaged in socially organized
activities seems to have higher life expectancy and satisfaction than those
who are no longer socially involved. This viewed was also buttressed by
Oyerinde (1997) who posted that need for all age group to remain healthy
and pre-occupation of this age group with physical fitness and good health
has led to a new awakening exercise and adequate diet.
Results obtained for the relationship between gender and choice of
recreational activities showed that hypothesis of no significant relationship
was accepted. Majority of the respondents agreed that participation of men
and women in recreation provides avenue for social interaction. This result
corroborates the finding of Ogundare (1995) that state that participation of
women in sporting activities is quite encouraging. In the recent past
especially 1990s. Similarly, Omoruan (1995) supported that humanity
subjects and Physical Education activities are carefully collected to care for
boys and girls.This is however, contrary to study by Women’s Research and
Documentation Center (1996) and Bolaji (1997) which confirmed that,
women’s role from 1930 was domestic work and menial jobs like weaving,
dying, cooking , craft, keeping livestock, and so on.
Equipment in any sporting activity is an essential factors of successes in
an organized sporting unit programme. It was shown from the results and
findings of this study the hypothesis of no significant relationship between
equipments and choice of recreational activities of Kwara state civil servant
was retained this was due to fact that majority families possessed recreation
equipment in their various home. As Farkash (2002) hoping that if the family
possesses numerous article related to recreation the children are more likely
to be participant, likewise employers and employees. In this respect Oduyale
in Adesoye (1997) suggested that few available recreation equipment should
be adequately managed. To find out extent at which recreational facilities
meet the demands of civil servants in term of availability accessibility, supply
and above all management shown that hypothesis of no significant was
rejected. It was discovered that none of the sample ministries for the study ,
except Ministry of Sports and Culture has sports field and courts this
buttressed assertion made by Odegbami (2002) that unavailability of
sporting facility is an impediment to the development of football and other
sports in the country just has Obiyemi (2000) emphasized that daily increase
in the numbers of the fitness centers in most Nigeria urban cities
characterizes the vogue in the present day sport conscious of Nigeria
society. Why Omoruan (1996) suggested that old and new town halls can be
updated with improved recreational programmes for the community use as
a whole. There existed significant relationship between the nature of official
duties and that choice of recreational activities of Kwara state civil servants
due to such factors as types of work, hours of work, location of work,
availability of recreational equipment and facility. This is in line with the
view expressed by Farkash (2000) that the type of works , hours of work,
location of work availability of equipment innovative work and invention
exposure to modern technological system determine the attitude of the
workers towards recreation. This is supported ,by Isuigo- Abnihe (1997) that
job transfer from one city to the other have tendency to affect their normal
routine of activities . The result of the findings showed there existed
significant relationship and the choice of recreational activities of Kwara
state civil servants who agreed that religion determined women and
participation in recreation. Akintunde (2001) observed that some religion
frown at social activities that expose much of sacred part of women . In the
same vain, Omoruan (1996) stressed that churches nowadays maintain
recreational rooms and sponsor sporting activities to attract and training
young members. while Yusuf (1995) supported the view that Islam supports
physical activities that will promote physical and mental growth hence,
Islamic Republic of Iran organized an international sport for women from
Muslim country in (1994).
Conclusion
The findings of this study showed that factors like age, availability facilities,
nature of official duty and the religion have significant influence on the
choice recreational activities of Kwara state civil servants while gender and
the availability of equipment did not influence the choice of recreational
activities of workers because many families possessed much recreational
equipment such as television set, tape, recording , novel , Ayo boards Ludo
board.
Recommendations
1. All civil servants in the state should know that participation in
recreation has no age limit, everyone should participate fully without
age barrier
2. There is no gender discrimination, both sexes male & female should
participate freely.
3. Kwara state government should make enough provision for
recreational equipment so that every civil servants could be
opportune to partake in recreational activities .
4. Kwara state government should ensure availability of recreational
facilities at all ministries e.g. Recreational room , sport fields ,
swimming pools and so on while all recreational center should be well
managed.
5. Government service should be planned in such a way that will give
room for participation in recreation.
6. Religion bodies/ organizations should serve as medium of enlightening
civil servants on important of recreation to their life.
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