Retaining and properly developing employees: could this impact professional conduct?

Abstract

The relationship between public servants' professionalism and human resource retention and development (HRRD) is examined in this article. Variables such as performance appraisal, training and motivation are used to measure HRRD while the effect on professional output of public service employees is examined. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were adopted; four hundred and seventy six (476) useable questionnaires were retrieved from respondents and used in the quantitative analysis, while three different groups consisting of between eight to twelve people participated in focus group discussions. Inferential statistics was used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were organised into themes. Findings indicate among others a lack of motivation among Nigerian public servants owing to remuneration and other incentives that are considered inadequate. We also found that the training and developmental strategies that are in place were not problem-specific. Therefore, a revamp of the current performance appraisal system is suggested amongst many others.