ABSTRACT

This study examined the engagement policies andprogrammes ofprivate manufacturing enterprises in Nigeria: A study ofselected private manufacturing enterprises in Aha. Abia State, 2012 - 2017. A survey research design was usedfor the study. Five research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were posited and tested at 0.05 level ofsignificance. The population of the study was made up of 300 employees selected from two manufacturing companies which included Plannet Oil Nigeria limited, and J. Udeagbala Holdings Nigeria Limited, in Aba, Abia stale. The sample comprised 169 employees. This sample was drawn using simple random sampling technique with proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire based on the purpose of the study and iiy/.smade up of 27 content items using 5-points likert scale model and validated by two experts in the Unit ofMeasurement and Evaluation, researcher's supervisor, and other erudite scholars in the department ofIndustrial Relations and Personnel Management. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The test-retesl method of reliability of the instrument was used and the data obtained were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation andyielded a correlation coefficient of0.85. This was administered to a simple randomized sample of 169 employees drawn from a population of 300. All the research questions were analyzed using mean score, and average mean score while simple linear regression was employed in testing hypotheses. The results ofthe data analyzed revealed that career progression engagement policy, long service awards, career development and planning on the part of employees, remuneration and benefits to employees and regular motivation to employees are perceivably drivers of engagement policies and programmes of the selected private manufacturing enterprises in Aba, Abia State. There was a strong positive significant relationship between the engagement policies and organizational performance. Based on these findings, it was recommended that organizations engagement and communication pi ocess should be maintained to promote employee engagement in organizations in Aba, Abia State