Job Satisfaction and Lecturers’ Retention in North-East Nigeria’s Colleges of Education

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of job satisfaction on lecturers’ retention in North-East, Nigeria’s Colleges of Education. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 2,328 lecturers from Colleges of Education in North-East, Nigeria. A sample of 327 respondents was selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Three objectives, three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data collection was carried out with the use of research instrument titled “Job Satisfaction Lecturers Retention Questionnaire (JSLRQ)”. The reliability of the research instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha and a coefficient score of 0.85 was obtained, indicating high reliability. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), employing both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were presented through Means and Standard Deviation, while inferential statistics were presented through Simple Linear Regression Analysis, with hypotheses tested at a 5% significance level. The empirical findings of this study demonstrate that substantive enhancement in job satisfaction may yield a corresponding increase in lecturers’ retention rate. The finding revealed, among others, that working conditions statistically significantly influence lecturers’ retention (β = .396). Also, the result showed that professional training statistically significantly influences lecturers’ retention (β = .307). Moreover, the result revealed that supervision statistically significantly influences lecturers’ retention (β = .310). Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that the government, colleges’ authorities, education regulatory bodies and all stakeholders in academia should pay increasing attention to job satisfaction of lecturers in order to lower turnover intention, thereby increasing retention rate. These results were discussed in relation to previous findings of similar studies, and recommendations were also proffered.