This study attempts an empirical synthesis of employees’ perceived
relationship between motivation and job performance in Nigeria. It employed a survey
research method in collecting data from Abia State Civil Service in Nigeria. A total of
two hundred and fourteen (214) of the civil servants were sampled. Pearson Product
Moment Correlation statistical tool was used to determine employees’ perceived
relationship between motivation and job performance in Nigeria. The result reveals that
employee motivation has a weak positive and a significant relationship with job
performance; intrinsic motivation has a moderate significant positive relationship with
job performance; while extrinsic motivation has a weak significant positive relationship
with job performance. The conclusion reached is that motivation of employees play a
critical role in job performance and that indeed, the motivation of employees should not
be overlooked because the long-term survival of any organization depends largely on
the motivation of their employees be it intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. It is therefore
recommended that efforts should be made by managers, leaders and administrators of
Abia State Civil Service to learn about what their employees want from their jobs, or
what is important to them should be given to them.