EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PRACTICES, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL WORK PERFORMANCE AMONG EMPLOYEES OF SELECTED PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Authors

  • Olabode David OLATUNJI Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko
  • Olabowale Adewumi ADEOLA Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko
  • Adulrahaman MUHAMMED Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko
  • Felix Dare, ADEWUMI Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.
  • Yemisi Elizabeth AKINOLA Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57233/zjpd.v6i2.12

Keywords:

Employee compensation practices, employee engagement, individual work performance, private universities

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among employee compensation practices, employee engagement and individual work performance among employees of selected private universities in South-West Nigeria. The study was motivated by the importance of appropriate compensation arrangements and employee engagement in supporting effective employee performance within the competitive private higher education environment. The study was anchored on equity theory and Kahn's theory of personal engagement. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 3,222 teaching and non-teaching staff of three selected private universities. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, of which 212 valid responses were obtained, representing an 84.8% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between employee compensation practices and employee engagement (β = .61, p < .001; R² = .37). Employee compensation practices also had a positive and statistically significant predictive association with individual work performance (β = .54, p < .001; R² = .29). Similarly, employee engagement was positively and significantly associated with individual work performance (β = .65, p < .001; R² = .42). The findings suggest that compensation practices and employee engagement are important variables associated with individual work performance within the sampled universities. Employee engagement also occupies an important intervening position in the conceptual relationship between compensation practices and performance. The study recommends that the sampled universities strengthen the fairness, competitiveness and transparency of compensation arrangements while simultaneously developing practices that support employee engagement.

Author Biographies

Olabode David OLATUNJI, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Olabowale Adewumi ADEOLA, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Adulrahaman MUHAMMED, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Felix Dare, ADEWUMI, Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences,

Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

Yemisi Elizabeth AKINOLA, Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

Department of Business Administration Faculty of Management Sciences,

Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria.

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Published

2026-09-21

How to Cite

David OLATUNJI, O., Adewumi ADEOLA, O., MUHAMMED, A., Dare, ADEWUMI, F., & Elizabeth AKINOLA, Y. (2026). EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PRACTICES, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL WORK PERFORMANCE AMONG EMPLOYEES OF SELECTED PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA. Zamfara Journal of Politics and Development, 6(2), 152–169. https://doi.org/10.57233/zjpd.v6i2.12

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Zamfara Journal of Politics and Development

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s)

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