An Assessment of the Levels of Job Motivation and Satisfaction as Predictors of Job Performance of Library Personnel in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This study investigated the levels of motivation, job satisfaction and job performance of library personnel in government and privately-owned universities in North-Central, Nigeria. Three research questions were raised. Survey research method was employed. The study covers six states, namely Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Survey method tested the relationships among variables thereby making generalizations about the library phenomenon. The target population for the study consisted of librarians and library officers in fully-operational universities in North-Central Nigeria. The entire population of librarians and library officers were adopted. Two sets of modified instruments: Motivational Factors Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MFJSQ) and Job Performance Questionnaire (JPQ) were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the responses from the respondents. Above all, descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answer the three research questions on the levels of motivation, job satisfaction and job performance of library personnel. Findings showed moderate level of motivation and job satisfaction respectively while there was high level of job performance of library personnel. The study recommended that the management of universities in the North-Central Nigeria should take note of the following areas: adequate job design, description and employees’ participation in decision making/leadership training, recognition and in-service training programme for library personnel. Other recommendation include: encouragement for library personnel to enhance job commitment and to be more predispose to critical thinking in order to be able to solve library related problems.