THE IMPACT OF MOTIVATION ON PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study is aimed at determining the impact of motivation on employee’s job performance in the Nigeria public service. (A case study of NAFDAC). The purpose is to investigate and identify factors responsible for the current state of affairs and seek to find practical solution for lack of staff motivation and job performance. The research design is survey research design comprising of opinions, impressions and perceptions of the respondents. The sampling techniques were simple random sampling and proportionate stratified random sampling. In sampling opinion to collect data, the questionnaire was used. In all, a population of 150 staff of NAFDAC comprising top management, middle management and junior staff were administered to them but only 90 responded. The result from the findings indicated that commensurate salaries and allowance paid to employee of NAFDAC would motivate them towards higher job performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The success of any business or organization as a matter of fact depends largely on the motivation of the employees. Human resources are essential to the prosperity, productivity and performance of any company. Motivation is the key to creating an enabling environment where optimal performance is possible. This leads to the question how then do we ensure that the individual motivation is at its peak within the organization or workplace? (Chapman, 2004).

Every employee or worker has his or her own set of motivations and personal incentives that ginger him or her to work hard or not as the case may be. Some are motivated by recognition whilst others are motivated by cash incentives. Whatever, the form of employee motivation, the key to promoting that motivation as an employer, is understanding and incentives (Mc Coy, 2000).

Employee incentive programmes go a long way towards ensuring employees feel appreciated cared for and deemed worthwhile. This can go a long way to help with employee motivation across the board. The greatest thing about motivation is that it is individualized as such programs are tailored to suit the needs and wants of employees. Motivation does not only encourage productive performance but also show employees how much the company cares. Perhaps the most vital impact of employee motivation is that of increased productivity or performance. This according to literature on the subject is the central aim of adopting employee motivational programmes thus, if you can increase employee motivation, productivity inevitably will follow suit (Ryan, 2011).

Employee motivation promotes workplace harmony and increased employee performance. It is the key to long term benefits for the company. Motivated employees means staff retention and company loyalty, which in the short run will give birth to growth and development of business (Jishi, 2009).

In the nutshell, the above submission shows that employee motivation is very essential to the growth, development and success of any business entity be it small or big. In the business world or better still the workplace human resources are the most valued and cherished resources above all others. Motivated employees are productive, happy and highly committed to their job. The spin off this, result in reduced employee turnover, results driven employees, loyalty and harmony thus the research topic “an assessment of employee motivation and its impact on performance, with the focus on NAFDAC”.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

When you think about it, it can be realized that, the success of any facet of business or company can be traced back to motivated employees. From productivity and profitability to recruiting and retention, hardworking and happy employees lead to harmony and organizational triumph (Ryan, 2012).

Unfortunately, motivating people is far from an exact science in most businesses or organisations. Most organisations are still living in yesteryears of organizational management. A preliminary survey conducted by the researcher with thirty workers (30) NAFDAC revealed that the following factors cause dissatisfaction among workers and hence their underperformance; these factors were long working hours, unreasonable work load, feeling underpaid and inadequate appreciation.

Lack of proper motivation factors may result in losses which may eventually lead to low staff turnover, poor attitude towards work, low output level and low profitability. It is in the light of these that the study intends to look into the effect of motivation on the performance of the workers of NAFDAC.

1.3 Research Objectives

The main aim at this study was to assess motivation and its effect on performance at NAFDAC, a public organization in Nigeria. To be precise, the study would seek to fulfill the below enumerated objectives:

1. To examine the concept of motivation and performance with regards to NAFDAC.
2. To find out the motivational factors put in place by the organization to reward hard work.
3. To find out the extent to which there is a relationship between employee motivation and performance.
4. To find out the challenges that NAFDAC face in its attempt to motivate staff.

1.4 Research Questions 

1. What is NAFDAC’s understanding of motivation and performance?
2. What motivational factors have been put in place by the organization to reward hard work?
3. Is there a relationship between motivation and performance at NAFDAC?
4. What challenges does NAFDAC faces in motivating its employees?

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study targeted only full- time workers within NAFDAC a public organization in Nigeria. The population of this study comprised as earlier indicated, full time workers, and have worked with the organization for two (2) years and above. In terms of content, the study focused on employee motivation and performance. Respondents were asked questions on issues related to forms of motivation, individual needs, and their perception on factors that increase performance and their general view on the relevance of motivation.

The reason why this study had its scope within NAFDAC and not all organizations is because the researcher works there and wishes to attempt to improve the situation.

1.6 Scope/Limitations of the study

The limitation of the study concerns the instruments employed in undertaking the research. This study was limited to an interview and questionnaire administration methods with the hope of clarifying or explaining issues that cropped up during administration of questionnaires.

The sample size will also make it extremely difficult to generalise results of the study to cover all branches of the organization nationwide.

Due to workload and long hours of organization work, the researcher could not have all respondents responding to the questions asked especially staff.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The findings from this study will be beneficial not only to the workers of the organization but also the financial sector as a whole. In other words, this study will be useful at three levels thus, the individual level, institutional level and national level.

1. At the individual level, the workers of the institution will be informed as to the incentive programmes available to them and how best to utilize them for personal development and improved performance.
2. At the institutional level, it will help the organization to change or review their employee motivational policies and strategies in vogue which will inevitably cause an increase in staff turnover or productivity which will also lead to growth and eventually development.
3. At the national level, critical issues of motivation are of national concern as it will help in the retention of workers. So the study will be essential for all financial institution especially the organizations as it has come at the right time and at the right place to support national policies especially the policy to make the private sector the engine of growth of the economy.

1.8 Organization of the study

This study is structured to provide a critical review of relevant information regarding employee motivation and performance. The study comprised five chapters and it is presented as follows:

Chapter One: Dealt with the introduction, giving the background to the study along with the statement of the problem. The chapter also outlined the research objectives together with the research questions, research scope, limitations and significance of the study, and organisation of the study.

Chapter Two: Reviewed related literature regarding many aspects of  motivation and performance which included a definition on motivation and performance, the various theories and models of motivation, how motivation affects performance, factors affecting motivation and performance, relationship between motivation and performance and how employee motivation affect employee performance and types of rewards.

Chapter Three: Presented the research methodology and focused on research design and methods as well as the justification of choices and uses. In addition, the study population and area, sampling and sample size determination, data collection activities and data analysis methods.

Chapter Four: Presented the data, which was subsequently interpreted and analysed in relation to the research objectives and questions, and discussion of findings of the study;

Chapter Five: Provided a summary to the entire study, drew conclusions and also recommendations made.

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