Title:
MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS AND WORK ATTITUDES INFLUENCE ACADEMIC STAFF PRODUCTIVITY IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Authors:
Prof. OSAWARU-OGBEGIE Rosemary Iyalekhuosa, Dr. OKOSUN Mercy and Dr. OGIEVA Adesuwa Evelyn, Nigeria

Abstract:
This study explores how motivational factors and work attitudes influence academic staff productivity in Nigerian public universities, with a focus on Edo State. Drawing on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Expectancy Theory, the research adopts a phenomenological qualitative design within an interpretivist paradigm. Data were collected through 30 in-depth interviews, two focus group discussions, and document analysis from academic staff across the University of Benin and Ambrose Alli University. Thematic analysis revealed four interrelated themes: (1) structural motivational deficits and professional disengagement; (2) intrinsic commitment amid institutional constraints; (3) work attitudes as mediating mechanisms; and (4) leadership practices and institutional climate as contextual moderators. Findings indicate that while extrinsic deficits such as delayed salaries and promotion delays reduce engagement, intrinsic motivators including autonomy, recognition, and professional growth sustain productivity. Work attitudes—job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and engagement—mediate the relationship between motivation and productivity, while supportive leadership and collegial climate amplify these effects. The study concludes that academic productivity is shaped by the dynamic interaction of structural, psychological, and relational factors, and offers practical recommendations for educational management, including enhancing welfare, fostering intrinsic motivation, promoting positive work attitudes, and strengthening leadership and governance practices. This study contributes to both theory and practice by contextualizing international motivation frameworks within the Nigerian higher education system.