Effect of Motivation on Job Performance in the Public Service of Nigeria

This paper investigates the existence of inefficiency in Nigeria public service and examines motivation tools and strategies as an essential tool to improve efficiency in public service. The objectives of this research work are to examine the key motivational tools and strategies used in Nigeria Public service and also the effect of these tools and strategies on job performance of Nigeria public service.Primary and secondary were utilized for the study. Primary data were collected through survey method using the techniques of questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The descriptive analysis involved the use of simple percentages and tabulation, while inferential statistical method employed chi-square analytical instrument. The secondary data were obtained from relevant thesis/project, government publications, journals and textbooks and internet sources.The study identified the key motivational tools and strategies used in Nigeria Public services which Include promotion, monetary compensation, nature of the job, leadership style, coworker’s cooperation, fairness treatment, work group, work environment, job enrichment and good managerial relationship. The study also analyzes the challenges facing Nigeria Public service in the implementation of the mentioned motivation strategies and also examined the effect of the motivational tools and strategies on job performance of Nigeria public servants. The study revealed that people are likely to be motivated if they work in an environment in which they are valued for what they are and what they do. It also revealed that the degree of motivation of employees in Nigeria public service has a direct impact on the level of turnover. The study also revealed that the relationship between workers and managers has effect on public servant job performance and also the degree to which public servant were given promotion opportunity had direct impact on the job performance of Nigeria public service.The study concluded that motivational strategies and techniques used by Nigeria public service has effect on their job performance whereby increase in these motivational tools and techniques leads to increase in public servant job performance