MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS AS CORRELATE OF JOB PERFORMANCE OF LIBRARIANS IN STATE-OWNED UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between motivational factors and job performance of librarians in state-owned universities in North Central Nigeria. The study was designed to determine the level of job performance of librarians, their motivational factors, relationship between motivational factors and respondents’ job performance, problems affecting performance and strategies to enhance job of performance librarians. The study was guided by five research questions and one null hypothesis. The population of the study is 92 librarians in state-owned universities in North Central Nigeria. No sampling was done in the research because the population was manageable. Therefore, the entire population was used. The questionnaire tagged Motivational Factors as Correlates of Job Performance of Librarians (MFAPL )  was developed and used to collect data for the study. The questionnaire was validated by three experts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Federal University of Technology, Minna. A total of 84 out of 92 librarians in state-owned universities in North Central Nigeria responded to the questionnaire. The overall reliability index of the instrument was 0.83, indicating that the instrument was reliable. The questionnaire was administered using research assistants after the researcher personally visited each university. Means and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis formulated for the study at 0.05 level of significance. The major finding of the study revealed that there is significant relationship between motivational factors and job performance of librarians in state-owned universities in North Central Nigeria and that their overall level of performance of librarians was good. All the motivational factors had good ratings. The study recommended the regular assessment of librarians’ performance, adequate motivation of librarians; sustenance of the tempo of librarian’s performance by exploring better ways of job performance(s). In the same vein, proor remunerations, delay in promotion, lack of staff training, bad university policies such as discriminatory attitude towards library staff as evidenced in the unwillingness to open opportunities for training among others were some major factors hampering the performance of librarians. The study discussed strategies for improving job performance such as empowerment of staff ( that is giving employees freedom and authority to execute their jobs without overbearing supervision) rewarding and recognising their efforts and sacrifices, evolving stimulating working environment and welfare among others.