Effect of Wellness Programs on Employee Performance in Public Service Organizations. a Study of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Ilorin, Kwara State

In Nigeria, public service organizations, especially tax administration agencies such as the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), face significant challenges that hinder employee performance. These challenges include high work-related stress, sedentary work environments, poor dietary habits, limited access to structured wellness initiatives, and inadequate organizational support for employee well-being. The broad objective of the study is to examine the effect of wellness programs on employee performance in public service organizations, using KWIRS as a case study. Specifically, the objectives were to: (i) determine the effect of fitness programs on employee performance at KWIRS, (ii) ascertain the effect of health screenings on employee performance at KWIRS, and (iii) assess the influence of nutritional education on employee performance at KWIRS. The study adopted a census sampling technique, involving all 20 employees of the Human Resource Department of KWIRS. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using simple linear regression via SPSS version 26.0. The result of the analysis revealed that fitness programs have a positive and significant effect on employee performance (t-statistic = 7.213, p < 0.05), health screenings also have a positive and significant effect on employee performance (t-statistic = 5.894, p < 0.05), and nutritional education has a significant and positive influence on employee performance (t-statistic = 6.431, p < 0.05). The study therefore concluded that wellness programs significantly enhance employee performance in public service organizations. It is recommended that public sector institutions such as KWIRS should institutionalize wellness initiatives by investing in regular fitness programs, conducting periodic health screenings, and offering nutritional education to improve employee well-being, reduce absenteeism, and boost overall productivity.