The issues and challenges of employee performance have become topic of debate in the developing nation like Nigeria. This paper aims to determine the effect of emotional intelligence on employee performance in the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Abuja. The study adopted quantitative research design through survey research with the help of questionnaire. The population of the study is 487 employees of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Headquarters Abuja. The sample size is 220 through the use of Taro Yamane, (1967). The study adopted stratified sampling technique. The Multiple Regression Analysis was used with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The result showed that both social awareness and relationship management skills have not significant effect on employee performance in the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Abuja. The limitations of the findings showed that one location is not sufficient to generalize about employees working at the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) in Nigeria. A limited number of employees used as a sample is insufficient for a wider generalization. The practical implications indicated that the management of Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) Headquarters, Abuja should adopt the findings as a means to encourage employees to keep up with their social awareness skills in carrying out their responsibilities. Heads of Departments at FCSC Headquarters Abuja should organize departmental workshops monthly to encourage and remind employees on the need to maintain relationship management skills while dealing with their functions. The methodological Implications provided useful information on emotional intelligence and employee performance to help other researchers in related studies. This paper also contributed and indicates specific areas for future empirical research.

Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Social awareness, Relationship management, Employee performance.