This study has investigated the nature of leadership styles and the politics of institutional management in State-owned Universities in Nigeria. In the study, descriptive survey design was adopted. Generated data were analysed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) via Special Package on Social Sciences (SPSS). Analysis was based on primary data generated through a structured likert questions administered on respondents. The result of the findings shows the need for the government to grant institutional autonomy to the management of state-owned universities in Nigeria and especially in the various 6 geo-political zones in other to achieve global best practices, organisational performance and sustainable human capital development within the purview of global/ international standards thereby providing relevant manpower training and general performance of its tasks in the areas of teaching, research, capacity building and community services, that will contribute meaningfully in institutional performance and rapid national development attainment in this 21st century.
Keywords: Institutional Management, Leadership, Leadership Styles, Nigeria, Politics, State-owned Universities
