By Ekumankama, Oji Onu
'The study was designed to make a comparative study on the job performance of
extension professionals in Abia and Akwa Ibom states' ADPs. The study also highlighted
and compared the personal characteristics, organizational confidence, job-related tension,
and coping behaviours of extension professionals in both states' ADPs. All the extension
agents (EAs), block extension agents (BEAs), block extension supervisors (BESs), and
7onal extension officers (ZEOs) in Abia and Akwa Ibom states' ADPs constituted the
population. On the whole, one hundred and eighty six (186) randomly selected
respondents made up of 128 EAs, 26 BEAs, 28 BESs and 4 ZEOs constituted the sample
size. Five sets of structured questionnaire for EAs, BEAs, BESs, ZEOs, and chief
extension officers (CEOs) respectively, were utilized for data collection. Percentages,
mean scores, ranking, Pearson correlation coefficient, and I-test were the statistical tools
employed in analysing the data. The findings show that the job performance of each of
the EAs, BEAs, and BESs in Abia and Akwa Ibom states' ADPs was rated average. The
job performance of the ZEOs in both states' ADPs was rated high. Majority of the EAs,
BEAs, BESs, and ZEOs in Abia and Akwa Ibom states' ADPs were sometimes satisfied
with ADP as their organization. Majority of the EAs, BEAs, and ZEOs in Abia and Akwa
Ibom states' ADPs were sometimes worried about many of the job-related tension
variables such as lack of promotion opportunities, too much work, inadequate training,
unaware of supervisor's expectations, fear of retrenchment and so on. Most of the BESs
in Abia state ADP were also sometimes. worried about many of the job-related tension
indices unlike their counterparts in Akwa Ibom state ADP who were rarely worried about
many of these indices. Majority of the EAs and BEAs in Abia state ADP dealt sometimes
with job-related tension by using many of the coping behavioural variables such as
talking with friends, spouse and relatives," in\.:ohement in religious activities, seeking
professional help, leaving problems at work among others. In comparison, the EAs and
BEAs in Akwa Ibom state ADP dealt rarely with job-related tension by using many of
these variables. Most BESs in both states' ADPs also dealt rarely with job-related tension
by using many of the coping behavioural variables. The %EOs in Abia state ADP dealt
rarely with job-related tension by using many of the coping behavioural variables while
their colleagues in Akwa Ibom state ADP dealt sometimes with job-related tension by
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using many of these variables. Level of formal education of EAs in both states' ADPs
was significantly associated with job performance. The extension experience of BEAs
and BESs in Abia state ADP was a strong predicator of job performance unlike the
selected personal characteristics (age, level of formal education, household size, and
extension experience) of BEAs and BESs in Akwa Ibo111 state ADP which were poor
indicators of job performance. The selected personal characteristics of EAs in both states'
ADPs excepting age of EAs in Akwa Ibom state ADP were strong predicators of
organizational confidence. The selected personal characteristics of BEAs in Abia state
ADP were not significantly correlated with organizational confidence whereas age, level
of formal education, and household size of BEAs in Akwa Ibom State ADP were strong
indicators of organizational confidence. Only household si~oef BESs in Abia state ADP
was a strong predicator of organizational confidence. In comparison, level of formal
education and household size of BESs in Altwa Iboin state ADP were significantly
associated with organizational confidence. Age, level of formal education, and household
size of EAs in both states' ADPs excepting age of EAs in Abia state ADP were
significantly correlated with job-related tension. The personal characteristics of BEAs
and BESs in both states' ADPs excluding household size of BEAs in Akwa Ibom state
ADP were strong indicators of job-related tension. Level of formal education, household
size, and extension experience of EAs in both states' ADPs were strong predicators of
i
coping behaviours. Level of formal education and extension experience of BEAs in Abia
state ADP compared with age and extension experience of their counterparts in Altwa ., ,+>.*f. ,t. , .+*
Ibom state ADP were significantly associated with coping behaviours. Level of formal
education, household size, and extension experience 01' BESs in Abia state ADP
compared with age and extension experience of BESs in Altwa Ibom state ADP were
strong indicators of coping behaviours. Alge, hwsehold six, and extension experience of
ZEOs in both states' ADPs were significantly associated with job performance,
organizational confidence, job-related tension, and coping behavioural variables. The
study recommends that policies should be designed to improve the level of formal
education of EAs through greater participation of EAs in in-service training courses.
Extension professionals who are more experienced in extension work should be retained
and encouraged in their bid to ensure effective extension contact with farming groups.
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The ADPs under study should ensure that good and balanced working conditions are
prevalent in their organizations for the purposes of lowering job-related tension and
promoting organizational confidence of extension professionals and ultimately improving
their job performance.