NON-FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND MOTIVATION OF WORKERS FOR HIGHER PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR IN NIGERIA (A STUDY OF ABIA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ABA)

Abstract The study examined the relationship between non-financial incentives and workers’ motivation in exploring three key variables of continuing professional development, employee participation in decision-making and recognition of employees’ efforts. Survey research design was adopted involving the use of questionnaire to gather data from 269 respondents drawn from a population of 1285 staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. The sample was drawn using simple random sampling method. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and thematic analysis. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Expectancy theory and Equity theory were adopted as framework of analysis. The study found out that the importance of non- financial incentives is that they help to instil commitment and improve performance of continuing professional development and workers’ motivation; and concludes that since workers’ motivation is a vital tool to organizational effectiveness and growth, employers should explore more of non-financial incentives in formulating and implementing employee benefits related policies. It went on to recommend among others that organizations should always motivate the workers through non-financial incentives, like recognition of one’s effort, praising workers when they perform highly for more performance.