Career Advancement and Recognition: Siamese Motivating Factors for Job Satisfaction Among Academic Staff in 21st Century

This study aimed at investigating the effect of employee motivation on job satisfaction of selected Federal Universities in North Central, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to: (i) investigate the effect of employee career advancement on commitment to work of selected Federal Universities in North-Central, Nigeria (ii) determine the effect of employee recognition on commitment to work of selected Federal Universities in North-Central, Nigeria. The study adopted cross sectional survey design. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Six (6) Federal Universities were selected across the North-Central, Nigeria. A sample of 374 academic staff of the selected Universities were selected from a population of 13,708 using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination formula. Simple random sampling technique was used for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis at 0.05% significant level. The findings of the study were that: Employee career advancement has a significant effect on commitment to work: (Employee training and development) β = 0.181, t = 2.913, p = 0.004, and (Employee mentorship programme) β = 0.318, t = 5.529, p = 0.000; the finding also showed that employee recognition has significant effect on job satisfaction: (Performance based promotion/Awards) β = 0.310, t = 4.101, p = 0.000 and (Welfare package) β = 0.259, t = 3.522, p = 0.001;. The study concluded that employee motivation can immensely improve job satisfaction, attitude to work, commitment to work and quality of work among the academic staff of the selected Universities in North-Central, Nigeria. The study therefore, recommended that universities should provide adequate career advisory services to its academic staff as well as have adequate and proper career development plan for its academic staff to improve on their overall performance and develop more effective reward system.