TURNOVER INTENTION FACTORS AND ITS EFFECT ON EXTENSION OFFICERS JOB PERFORMANCE IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the turnover intention factors and its effect on extension officers’ job performance in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study used stratified sampling technique to select 80 extension officers of the Agricultural Development Project in the 4 zones of Ondo State. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. The results show that extension officers rated level of job performance, emotional intelligence and organizational commitment as high while job satisfaction and leadership member exchange as low. Significant and positive correlation (p<0.01) existed between each variable and work performance. Regression analysis results showed that emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, and leadership member exchange were significant turnover intention factors that affect job performance. The R2 value of 0.731 indicates that the three (3) factors gave 73.1% explanation of the variance in extension officers’ job performance. The results also suggested that emotional intelligence (?=0.734) was the most important turnover intention factor that have effect on job performance, followed by job satisfaction and leadership member exchange. Hence, emotional intelligence, job satisfaction and leadership member exchange should be taken into consideration as turnover intention factors that affect job performance among the extension officers. This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship of turnover intention factors to job performance and will add to existing body of knowledge in the domain of managing extension officers’ in the agricultural industry, thereby increasing job performance and productivity in the agricultural sector. Keywords: Extension Officers, Intention, Job Performance, Turnover.