Title: Organisational Trust And Work Engagement As Predictors Of Academic Staff Commitment In Delta State-Owned Universities
Authors: OROYE-OKPOUDHU
Rachael Zino (Ph.D)
OLOBIA
Oghenevwoke Rita
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Pages: 92-98
Publication Date: 2026/02/28
Abstract:
This study investigated organisational trust and work engagement as predictors of academic staff commitment in universities owned by Delta State. A correlational research design was employed. The study population consisted of 1,486 academic staff working across the three Delta State-owned universities during the 2024/2025 academic session. A total of 400 academic staff were selected through a multi-stage sampling approach that incorporated purposive, proportionate, and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using three standardised instruments: the Organisational Trust Scale, the Work Engagement Scale, and the Academic Staff Commitment Questionnaire. The instruments were validated by specialists in Educational Management as well as Measurement and Evaluation. Reliability testing was conducted using the Cronbach's alpha method, which produced reliability coefficients of 0.83 for organisational trust, 0.86 for work engagement, and 0.81 for academic staff commitment. Of the 400 questionnaires distributed, 376 were properly completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 94.0%. The data obtained were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression statistical techniques. The results indicated that organisational trust significantly predicted academic staff commitment in Delta State-owned universities. In addition, work engagement was found to be a significant predictor of academic staff commitment. Furthermore, organisational trust and work engagement jointly significantly predicted academic staff commitment, indicating that the combined effect of organisational and psychological factors provides a stronger explanation of lecturers' commitment than either factor alone. The study concluded that fostering trust in university leadership and enhancing lecturers' engagement in their work are essential for strengthening academic staff commitment in state-owned universities. It was recommended that university management adopt transparent administrative practices, promote supportive work environments, and implement integrated strategies that simultaneously enhance organisational trust and work engagement to improve academic staff commitment.