Determinants of motivation among a selected group of civil service employees in Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify those job factors that determine the level of motivation in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service Commission and to establish how this knowledge can be used to increase motivation and job satisfaction across the Nigerian Federal Civil Service. A wide variety of theories on motivation and job satisfaction were studied. Herzberg's dual-factor theory of job satisfaction was used as the defining basis for the empirical part of the study. The findings both supported and refuted the theory. Both intrinsic and extrinsic job variables influenced the work motivation of respondents, with specific extrinsic variables having a significant effect, contrary to Herzberg's findings. A difference was also recorded among senior staff who appeared more motivated by intrinsic variables and junior staff who tended to emphasise extrinsic job variables.