AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF CHALLENGES FACED BY SECRETARIES ON THEIR WORK EFFICIENCY (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, KAURA NAMODA)

ABSTRACT The study was set to assess impacts of challenges facing Secretaries on their efficiency at work, the case of Polytechnic Koura Namoda. In order to meet the general objective of the research, three specific objectives were used which included; to identify challenges facing Personal secretaries at working place, to examine impacts of challenges facing secretaries on their efficiency at work and to identify measures taken by Administrators to improve working conditions of Secretaries. The researcher applied case study design, specifically focus on Polytechnic Kaura Namoda to save costs and work within the limited time given. Whereby respondents were selected through purposive sampling in order that just few individuals selected out of the population were typical and representative of the whole population hence with them the researcher was able to collect all needed information. Armed with rhe findings, researcher found that personal secretaries faced different challenges including, negative perception towards personal secretaries, low promotions, low level of education and shortage of office equipments. The impacts of these challenges included; misunderstanding among workers, reduced concentration of work and led to rise in inferiority complex among secretaries. The researcher discovered that in order to reduce and resolve those challenges there were some efforts being made which included; training programmes at the workplace, equity programmes as well as developing corporate culture. Personal secretaries are responsible for disseminating information between offices and individual workers where necessary that is they are responsible to link communications, they are also responsible for screening and handling telephone calls and by application of available equipments they are used to typing office documents and reports. In order to eliminate these challenges and improve performance of secretaries, the research recommends secretaries to raise their hands together and form their organization just like othei professional groups to protect their rights as secretaries in their work places and also societ) perceptions towards secretarial professional should be neutralized highly in advance.