The Roles of Work Motivation, Emotional Intelligence, and Demographics Characteristics in Predicting Job Satisfaction among Nigerian Police Officers

Job satisfaction of employees plays a crucial role in determining the general productivity of workers in any organization. The general opinion was that job satisfaction and productivity of police officers in Nigeria were low and a cause for concern. This study investigates the roles of work motivation, emotional intelligence, and demographic characteristics on job satisfaction among Nigerian police officers. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 110 participants (64 males and 46 females) through standardized questionnaires assessing work motivation, emotional intelligence, and job satisfaction. Descriptive and inferential analyses, considering regression techniques, were conducted at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that work motivation [β = .519, t = 5.699, p = .000] and emotional intelligence [β = .184, t = 3.759, p = .002] significantly predicted job satisfaction. In contrast, demographic factors such as gender, age, marital status, and length of service showed no significant joint prediction on job satisfaction [F (4, 61) = .740, p > .05]. The study concludes that enhancing work motivation and emotional intelligence can improve job satisfaction among police officers. Recommendations include implementing career development and training programs to align personal growth with organizational objectives, thereby fostering motivation and emotional intelligence.