BURN-OUT AND OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AMONG POLICE IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

The Nigeria Police Force is grappling with a significant issue of officers' negative attitudes towards their profession, resulting in subpar performance in the security sector. This is primarily due to corruption, lack of accountability, unfavorable working conditions, and political interference. The consequences of this issue, especially during economic downturn, are significant, necessitating a comprehensive assessment of rewards and occupational attitudes towards crime prevention and control in Lagos State. Therefore, this study aims to provide insight into the types of rewards implemented in the Nigeria Police Service and their impact on employee performance and occupational attitudes. To achieve the purpose of the study four research questions, objectives and corresponding hypothesis guided the study. Relevant concepts and empirical literature were reviewed and the study was anchored on a combination of three theories, namely Expectancy theory, Maslow theory of motivation and Equity theory. The study utilizes a descriptive survey design and a questionnaire titled "Reward and Occupational Attitude of Police Officers towards Crime Prevention and Control Questionnaire (ROAOPOQ)" to collect data from fifty respondents randomly selected from the Criminal Investigation Department of Ikeja Police Command. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The findings of the study highlight the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in influencing officers' attitudes towards crime prevention. Suggestions for enhancing rewards management and occupational attitudes include additional training opportunities for non-monetary incentives, a review of the current reward system, improved transparency, and increased budgetary provisions for rewards. The study also established a significant relationship between rewards and occupational attitudes of policemen towards crime prevention and control in Lagos State. The study concludes by presenting the appropriate recommendations based on the study's findings.