Emotional intelligence and staff job performance in federal universities in south-south, Nigeria

The study examined emotional intelligence and staff job performance in federal universities in South-South Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to evaluate the relationship between motivation and handling diverse learning needs and ascertain the relationship between empathy and providing career guidance in federal universities in South-South Nigeria. Research questions and five hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The population comprised four thousand, four hundred and seventy-eight (4,478) staff members, from which a sample size of 354 was determined using Freund and Williams' formula. Two hundred and eighty-seven (287) respondents returned their questionnaires, which were accurately completed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Z-test was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicated that motivation had a significant positive relationship with handling diverse learning needs in federal universities in South-South Nigeria, Z = 10.625, p < .05. Empathy had a significant positive relationship with providing career guidance in federal universities in South-South Nigeria, Z = 11.171, p < .05. The study concluded that motivation and empathy had significant positive relationships with handling diverse learning needs and providing career guidance to students in federal universities in South-South Nigeria. The study recommended, among other things, that federal universities in South-South Nigeria should encourage academic staff to cultivate intrinsic motivation by setting personal teaching goals, engaging in continuous learning, and participating in peer mentoring programmes.