Organisational commitment, work engagement and job performance: empirical study on Nigeria's public healthcare system

Currently, nurses’ job performance in Nigeria’s public healthcare system has been called into question and is under more pressure due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic. In enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and promptness of Nigeria’s public healthcare service delivery, this study seeks to explore how work engagement could play a key role in explaining the influence of organisational commitment on nurses’ job performance. A survey-based questionnaire, using a simple random technique was employed to collect data from 406 nurses working in public hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The data were analysed employing the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). Results demonstrate that affective and normative commitment wield positive significant effects on nurses’ job performance, while work engagement significantly mediates affective commitment, normative commitment and nurses’ job performance relationships. Consequently, this study recommends that the management of Nigeria’s public healthcare system and its policymakers should improve the commitment level of nurses through work engagement with a view to enhancing how well they do their job. This study benefits all the relevant stakeholders of Nigeria’s public healthcare system.