Human Resource Management (HRM) practices are vital for optimizing employee performance, particularly in academic institutions where human capital plays a central role in achieving organisational objectives. Despite their importance, the implementation of HRM practices in private universities in Ondo State, Nigeria, is often constrained by limited financial resources, competition from public institutions, and a shortage of qualified Human Resource (HR) professionals. Against this backdrop, this study investigated the effect of key HRM practices compensation and benefits, training and development, performance management, and promotion on the performance of academic staff in private universities within the state. A survey research design was employed, and data were gathered from a sample of 385 academic staff selected through stratified random sampling from a population of 568. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. A structured questionnaire served as the primary instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to summarize the data, while multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the relationships between the variables. The findings revealed that all four HRM practices had statistically significant and positive effects on employee performance, with compensation and benefits exerting the most substantial impact, followed by promotion, training and development, and performance management. The results highlight the strategic importance of HRM practices in enhancing teaching, research, and administrative effectiveness among academic staff. The study concludes that strengthening HRM practices is crucial for improving employee outcomes in private universities. It recommends that university management prioritize regular and equitable compensation, transparent and merit-based promotion, continuous professional development focused on pedagogy and technology, and performance appraisal systems that support institutional goals.
Keywords: Employee Performance, Human Resource Management Practices, Nigeria, Performance Management., Private Universities, compensation and benefits, training and development
