Benefits of Funding Tertiary Education in Nigeria

International Journal on Integrated Education e-ISSN : 2620 - 3502
p-ISSN : 2615 - 3785

https://journals.researchparks.org/index.php/IJIE
Benefits of Funding Tertiary Education in Nigeria
Niyi Jacob Ogunode

Ogunodejacob@gmail.com
Department of Educational Management, University of Abuja, Nigeria
Jethro Abiodun Olowonefa

ayodeleolowo1965@gmail.com
Department of Educational Management, University of Abuja, Nigeria
And
Sanusi Suleiman
Sanusisuleiman0@gmail.com
Educational Foundation Department, School of Education, Federal College of Education
Katsina.
Abstract
This paper discussed the benefits of funding tertiary education adequately in Nigeria. Secondary
data collected from print and online publications were used for the paper. The paper concluded
that adequate funding of tertiary institutions in Nigeria will lead to sufficient funds in the various
higher institutions, development of infrastructural facilities, employment of adequate staff,
increment in salaries and welfares packages of staffs, reduction in brain-drain problems,
prevention of strike actions in the institutions, attraction of international lecturers, research
development, improvement in international ranking and attainment of an effective staff training
programme. The paper suggested increasing investment in tertiary education. Tertiary
institutions should be allowed to charge tuition fees within the parameters set by the government,
but the Education Bank needs to be established to offer federal government-backed loans to
students who may require them. Federal, state and institutional scholarship awards to help
indigent students to pay tuition. Government institutionalized endowment funds for universities
to expand their pool of funds. Tertiary institution should use their alumni to generate more
revenue and give them incentives to contribute to their university endowment programmes. The
government should institutionalize a new model of funding for tertiary education that needs to be
developed in a way that will set objective parameters for the allocation of funds from the tertiary
education trust fund (TETFUND) based on verified outputs in teaching, research and community
service
Keywords: Funding, Community Development, Tertiary Education, Research, Teaching.
INTRODUCTION
Administration is act of arranging resources to achieve institutional goals. Administration is the
systematic process of applying both human and materials resource to realize the objectives of an
organization. Administration is the application and the deployment of organizational resource to
towards achievement of organizational goals (Ogunode, Pajo, Akhmedov, 2020). (Akinpelu
1984) submitted administration is concerned with a variety of tasks while (Ogunsaju 1998)
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International Journal on Integrated Education e-ISSN : 26203502
IJIE | Research Parks Publishing (IDEAS Lab) p-ISSN : 26153785
describes administration as the careful and systematic arrangement and use of human and
material resources, situations and opportunities for the achievement of specific objectives.
Administration is very germane to the realization of the school‟s objectives – indeed, the success
of the school system depends largely on the administration of the school is handled. (Kalagbor
2017), defined the administration as the process of identifying, mobilizing and utilizing scarce
human and material resources relevant in organization for the purpose of achieving specific
organization goals. Godwin (2018) Administration as dealing with integration of the appropriate
human and material resources that are made available and made effective for achieving the
purposes of a programme of an institution.
From the above definitions, this paper conceptualized administration as systematic organization
of human and materials resources for the implementation of organizational programme and for
the attainment of organizational programme. Administration can also be viewed as the
deployment of resources (human and materials) by institutions for the institutions programme
implementation and the realization of the institutional goals within a timeframe.
Administration covers education. The areas of education include early childhood, Basic
education, junior secondary school education, secondary school education and tertiary education
where we have university administration. University administration according to (Ogunode
2020) is the application of the universities‟ resources to implement the programme of the
universities with the aims of realizing the objectives of the universities. University
administration is the mobilization and arrangement of both human and materials resources for
the achievement of the university‟s goals. University administration is the effective use of the
resources of the university to implement the teaching programme, research programme and the
community service programme of the universities. University administration is the deployment
of the universities‟ resources to accomplish the universities‟ programme. The objectives of
university administration include: to implement the programme of the universities as defined; to
allocate resources for the implementation of the universities programme; to ensure
implementation of teaching programme, to ensure implementation of research programme; to
ensure delivery of quality community services programme, to ensure effective staff development,
to ensure effective student administration, to ensure smooth implementation of academic
calendar and to ensure quality education (Ogunode, 2020). The university administration is
plagued with many problems. These problems have affected the development of the universities
in Nigeria. It is important to discuss problems hindering effective university administration in
Nigeria.
Problem of University Administration in Nigeria

University administration is confronted with different problems in Nigeria. Some of these
problems include, poor funding, shortage of infrastructure facilities, shortage of academic staff,
lack of autonomy, integration of the universities into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System (IPPIS), inadequate current data, political influence, weak universities‟
Administrators, insecurity, strikes actions Brain-drain, corruption and policy instability
Poor Funding
Poor funding of universities in Nigeria have frustrated university administration. This
submission is acknowledged by (Ogunode & Abubakar 2020) who cited (Udida, Bassey, Udofia,
& Egbona) and they observed that the major issue in educational development is shortage of
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funds. One of the most serious problems threatening the survival of the educational systems is
that of dwindling level of public funding in the face of rising demands and hence rising cost of
higher education. This shortage of funds affects job performance and the growth of the
institution. Higher educational institutions cannot perform optimally without funding. This
situation calls for increased fund initiative from both the government and educational
stakeholders so as to sustain the tempo and growth of education industry. The inability of the
Nigerian government to objectively accept and implement the 15% - 20% funding formula for
education recommended by the UNESCO impact negatively on the performance and
sustainability of higher education (Ogunode 2023;Ogunode, & Emmanuel, 2023;Akomolafe &
Ibijola, 2014). Thus, it has become obvious that Nigeria‟s neglect of the funding formula is
detrimental to higher educational institution performance and development aspiration as quality
performance is the veritable instrument for sustenance of education system. This neglect has
further precipitated crises in the entire higher educational systems as effective teaching, research
and service are no longer taking place seriously. On this note, also, (Ogunode 2020) cited
(Akinola) who was worried about the funding situation and commented thus: “Our higher
institution education systems are in dire need of money.....to cater for both their capital and
recurrent needs. For a few years past, the budget have been cut back from year to year by the
federal government. This cut back has affected both capital and recurrent expenditures. In many
higher institutions capital projects embarked upon are few years ago, are yet to be completed due
to lack of adequate funds”. (Ogunode, Attah, & Ebute, 2023; Ogunode & Onyekachi (2021) and
(Obadara & Alaka, 2013) identified the factors responsible for inadequate funding of public
universities in Nigeria to include lack of political will, corruption, increase in population,
inflation, fall in national revenue and poor financial planning and the implications of
underfunding of the public universities include; inadequate infrastructural facilities, shortage of
academics staff, poor quality of education, brain-drain and strike action.
Shortage of Infrastructure Facilities
Shortage of infrastructure facilities is a major challenge to effective university administration in
Nigeria. There is shortage of infrastructure facilities in majorities of universities in Nigeria.
(Ebehikhalu & Dawam 2016) observed that recent reports on our universities portray a general
lack of infrastructural facilities. An average public university in Nigeria lacks basic infrastructure
like regular water supply, electricity, and standard accommodation for students. In many
instances, the toilets that serve the students are in bad shape as many do not have running water.
Lecture rooms and offices are not available and where available are in need of refurbishment.
Libraries are poorly equipped and are short of modern books and equipment. (Ogunode, &
Okwelogu, 2022) observed that laboratory equipment are obsolete and inputs for teaching are in
short supply. Roads and building on many campuses are in a state of disrepair. Poor and
dilapidated infrastructures are the major factors that have led to the despicable state of the
Nigerian Universities. It is therefore not surprising that the products of these infrastructures often
fail to rise up to the occasion when put to test and task. According to the students‟ Union
president of Ahmadu Bello University, Mallam Rafindadi Abubakar Aliyu stated that lack of
basic facilities in the Nigerian Universities is a great setback to conducive learning activities.
Rafindadi said the main problem facing students in the universities is congestion in classrooms,
dilapidated hostels and lack of modern laboratory equipment. You see a class that is meant to
accommodate only 30 students in those days, over 200 students are using the class today. Many
of us hang outside by the windows to receive lectures. In my department (Political Science), we
seat on bare floor to receive lectures in the lecture theater. We are 312 in my class. You can
imagine one lecture teaching 312 students, marking 312 scripts and each of the scripts, in an
examination, none of them is less than 10 pages. Some students seat on the podium where the
lecture is standing. Most of the seats are broken so you put your books on your lap to write.
There are no fans in many of the classrooms and when it is hot, you will be using the same book
to fan yourself and taking down notes at the same time. During the rainy reason, the classrooms
leak. The books in the libraries are outdated, the equipment in the laboratories are outdated. You
will see a large number of students lining up to use one microscope in the laboratories. The
hostel accommodation is one of the most challenges facing the students in the institutions. He
said there are no beds in the hostels and the students put mattresses to sleep on the floor. The
hostels are overcrowded with more than eight students in a room that was initially meant for one
or two persons. The students are exposed to all sorts of health problems because they also use the
rooms for cooking and washing in front of their rooms as there is no laundry where they can
wash. The toilets are bad, they have no doors and students have to queue to take their bath or
ease themselves (Enogholase 2013; Thisday, 2013). (Ishola, 2018; Khan & Khandaker 2016;
Ogunode, & Jegede 2021; Obadara, & Alaka, 2013) concluded that factors responsible for
inadequate infrastructural facilities in Nigerian public universities include; underfunding,
increased student population, corruption, poor infrastructural facilities planning, poor
supervision and inflation.
Shortage of Academic staff
Inadequate academic staff is a problem hindering effective curriculum implementation in tertiary
institutions. (Ogunode & Adamu, 2021) viewed academic staff as those teaching staff in higher
institutions. Academic staff are the implementer of the school curriculum and lecture presenters.
Academic staffs are the teachers and delivery of instruction in the higher institutions. Academic
staff are the knowledge and character builder/importers in the higher institution. The academic
staff are the engine room of the higher institutions. They are the pillar and foundation of higher
institutions. The functions of the academic staff include lecturing, preparing the lecture note,
preparing the lesson note, sourcing instruction materials, giving an assignment to students,
assessing the students through continuous assessment and examination, setting exams questions,
marking the answer sheet, supervising students' research work, especially projects, theses and
dissertation and prepares the students to grade points. The academic staff conducts different
levels of research, presents their findings and contributes to the development of knowledge in the
higher institutions (Ogunode, Jegede & Musa, 2021; Daniel-Kalio, 2019; Akpan, 2011;
Alechenu 2012). The shortage of academic staff is affecting curriculum implementation in many
higher institutions. There is a shortage of manpower in Nigerian universities which is why the
(National Universities Commission 2021) stated that universities should be isolated from the
Federal Government„s circular on new employment owing to the shortage of lecturers. The
commission noted that 100,000 academic staff members were attending to 2.1 million students in
Nigerian universities. The NUC disclosed that the commission was supervising over 200
universities consisting of 48 belonging to the Federal Government; 54 states and 99 private
institutions. NUC observed that ―The entire system has about 2.1 million students and a staff
strength of about 170,000 non-teaching and 100,000 academic staff. ―Some of the problems
facing the system include increased running costs, meagre budgetary allocations, issues of power
shortages and shortages of manpower. (Otokunefer 2015; Ogunode & Adamu 2021 and Ogunode
& Okwelogu 2022; Ogunode,& Ade, 2023;Ogunode & Olaoye, & Yakubu, 2023) conclude that
underfunding, poor manpower planning, poor motivation, government policy on the embargo,
corruption (Ghost worker) and strike action problems are the causes of inadequate academic staff
in the public universities in North-central Nigeria and the implications of the shortage of
academic staff in public universities include poor implementation of teaching programme, high
student-lecturers ratio, heavy workload for lecturers, poor local and international ranking, bad
international image, poor coverage of scheme of work and poor academic programme
accreditation.
Lack of Autonomy
The (Confederation of Indian Universities 2004) defined autonomy as the necessary degree of
independence from external control that the university requires in respect of its internal
organization and governance; the internal distribution of financial resources; staff recruitment;
the setting of the condition of study; the freedom to conduct teaching and research. Reasons for
university autonomy in Nigeria according to (Azenabor 2022) are: it is a traditional right, which
has worked over the years. The responsibilities of creating new knowledge through scholarship
and research, transmitting and preserving culture, developing the capacity in students for critical
and independent judgment, and cultivating aesthetic sensitivities are best carried out in
environments free from direct external control and domination. The complexity of academic
work requires a fair measure of independence. Autonomy provides for both staff and students
checks and balances and better morale in a democratic society. Universities globally are
designed to operate in full autonomy. The lack of autonomy in the Nigerian university system
has frustrated smooth administration. Autonomy makes university administration effective and
sustainable. Ogunode & Ibrahim 2023) concluded that integration of the federal universities into
the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), centralization of the university
system, centralization of admission, governing council dominance, poor implementation of the
university Autonomy Bill and poor funding model of public universities are the tools used by the
Nigerian government to undermine universities autonomy in Nigeria.
Integration of the universities into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information
System (IPPIS)
The integration of the universities into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System
(IPPIS) has affected effective university administration in Nigeria. The integration of the federal
universities into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) has slowed
down the federal universities‟ administration due to the non-flow of funds for effective
administration as a result of the centralization of universities' funds. (Ogunode, Olaoye, &
Yakubu, (2023); Olowonefa, Ogunode, & Ohibime (2022) and Ogunode, Ohibime, & Jedege,
(2023) noted that the survival of the university system depends on the availability of fund. The
university administrators need a system that guarantees funds always in the system to enable
them to carry out the administrative programme. The university system is not designed to work
with a centralized payment system outside the university system. Integrated Payroll and
Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is hindering effective running of the universities.
Universities should handle salaries payment of her staff. (Aluko, 2020) argued Integrated Payroll
and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) violated the concept of University autonomy.
University autonomy is a global practice associated with Universities all over the world and it
has four main dimensions, namely; academic, organizational, financial and staff autonomy
(Aluko, 2020). Academic autonomy simply means the University's capacity to manage its,
internal academic affairs independently. Such issues include; students' admissions, academic
content, quality assurance and the introduction of new degree programmes. Organizational
autonomy has to do with the Universities' ability to decide freely on issues like decision-making,
executive leadership, legal entities and internal academic structures (Doki. 2019). (Ogunode, &
Adamu 2023) stated that negative impacts of the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and
Payroll Information System (IPPIS) on the federal universities administration including
termination of appointment of contract staff, shortage of academic staff, slow in federal
university administration and violation of federal universities autonomy. Integration of the
federal universities into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have
violated the university autonomy and it have affected effective universities administration by
slowing it down.
Inadequate Current Data
Lack of current data on universities in Nigeria has prevented effective administration in Nigeria.
Data is very important for planning, decision taking and making. (Ogunode 2020) noted that
inadequate data on university education in Nigeria is another problem facing the planning of
public universities in Nigeria. There is limited data on university education in Nigeria. The data
available are not current and adequate and this is affecting the administration of the public
universities. Administration needs data to plan and take decision concerning programme of
public universities. The Nigerian educational system is faced with the problem of shortage of
current and reliable data for effective administration and management. The problems are more
pronounced in the higher institutions in the country. At the universities, the National
Commission Universities (NUC) Boss, He said, “I was totally disturbed that we could not lay our
hand on a verifiable statistics that would have to help us with our plans for our universities. That
made me to spend my first year as NUC boss studying some obvious inaccurate statistics being
brandished in different quarters regarding the current situation in our Nigerian universities
(NUC, 2018). (Ogunode 2022) identified inadequate funding, inadequate working materials,
shortage of professional data experts, poor capacity development of data mangers and inadequate
infrastructural facilities as the problems preventing effective data collection and distribution in
the Nigerian higher institutions.
Political Influence
Another big challenge facing the administration of public universities in Nigeria is the political
influence. The public universities have been designed to function with political office holders or
politician in the country. The school administrators of public universities are answerable to the
governing council constituted by the government to manage the affair of the public universities
in the country. (Ogunode & Musa 2022;Nyewusira2014) observed that political influence
manifested in the in the administration of public tertiary institutions through
employment/recruitment, the appointment of school administrators (VCs, Bursar, Registrar)
planning and establishment of public universities, location of universities, the appointment of
council members, expansion of National Universities Commission power and admission of
students. (Koko, 2015 and Ogunode& Abubakar, 2020) observed that the activities of these
governing councils is affecting effective administration of the public universities in Nigeria. The
alarming level of political interference in the administration of public universities in Nigeria is
frightening. The visitors of the universities who are the chief executives (president/governor)
have reserved powers to appoint the chancellors and constitute the governing council of various
universities under them and select their cronies as members. These appointees in turn interfere in
the internal management of the university such as selection of VCs and other principal officers of
the universities. This practice is seriously jeopardizing the administrations of universities in
Nigeria. (Ogunode, Atobauka, & Ayoko, 2023; Ogunode & Musa 2020) concluded that there are
many effects of political influence on the administration of Nigerian public universities and some
of them include; corruption, overconcentration, poor leadership, uneven development and poor
ranking of public universities.
Weak Universities Administrators
(Ogunode 2020) noted that appointment of weak administrators in the Nigerian public
universities is another big challenge facing the administration of public universities in Nigeria.
Many universities‟ administrators appointed to head universities are not qualified and less
exposed to administration and management of universities. (Udida, Bassey, Udofia, & Egbona as
cited Ogunode submitted that some individuals appointed as vice chancellors of some university
are weak, not competent and lack administrative potentials; such appointees must possess
administrative qualities and must lead by example. The leader must have integrity, must be
knowledgeable, and practice modern types of management leadership styles. He or she must be
visionary and ready to adjust to situations in the system. The performance of the administrator
should be sustained through the proper utilization of material and human resources in the
achievement of the institutional goals and objectives. A lot of higher education system managers
do not poses the charisma, or good human relations needed for effective and efficient leadership.
As a result of the poor leadership and ineffective style of administration, a lot of programme of
activities are not carried out in such institutions such as provision of grant for research and
publications, staff welfare is neglected, no adequate control of staff and students, no vision for
the university. Such leaders also do not have the zeal for supervision and monitoring of
institutional activities. This can affect the system‟s performance in that, workers can result to a
nonchalant attitude toward work and hence no sustainability or continuality of good track records
of performance in the system.
Insecurity
Insecurity is another problem facing the administration of public universities in Nigeria. Nigeria
is facing insecurity challenge and this is affecting the entire educational institutions in the
country. (Ogunode & Ukozor, 2022) noted that the Islamic sect called Boko haram meaning
western education is forbidden is attacking educational institutions in the Northern part of
Nigeria. (Ogunode, Okwelogu, Enyinnaya &Yahaya 2021) posited that many public universities
located in the Northern Nigeria have been victims of continuous attacks. Many students,
lecturers and administrators have been killed while others kidnapped. The various attacks on the
universities have resulted to school closure leading to unstable academic programme. (Obi 2015)
observed that insecurity and terrorism has been a major challenge to the Nigerian government in
recent times. The activities of the Islamic sect (Boko Haram) had led to loss of lives and
properties in the country especially in the Northern part of Nigeria. Some of these activities
include bombing, suicide bomb attacks, sporadic shooting of unarmed and innocent citizens,
burning of police stations, churches, kidnapping of school girls and women, etc. Kidnapping,
rape, armed robbery and political crises, murder, destruction of oil facilities by Niger Delta
militants alongside the attacks carried out by Fulani Herdsmen on some communities in the
North and South have been another major insecurity challenge facing the country. Nigeria has
been included among one of the terrorist countries of the world. Many lives and properties have
been lost and a large number of citizens rendered homeless. Families have lost their loved ones.
Many women are now widows. Children become orphans with no hope of the future. This has
implications for national development. (Ogunode, Ukozor & Ayoko, 2023) concluded that
insecurity challenges in Nigeria have affected teaching, research, community services
programme of higher education in Nigeria. The result also revealed that insecurity challenges
have led to a reduction in the investment in higher education, led to the death of students,
academic and non-academic staff and the destruction of infrastructural facilities in Nigeria.
Strikes Actions
Strike actions by unions in the universities have disrupted university administration. Nigerian
universities are known for continuous strike actions which is inimical to the development of the
universities. (Odim, Annastashia & Solomon 2018; Lawan, & Ogunode 2021) observed that
whenever there is strike action in any higher institutions its will affects the entire activities and
programme in the institutions. Teaching, researching and community service programme are
always brought to stand still during strike according to (Ogunode, Ugochukwu, & Iroegbu,
2022). It has become a known fact that students across various universities in Nigeria are
constantly faced with industrial actions embarked upon by the Academic and Non-Academic
Staff Unions of various institutions. The disagreement or lack of understanding between
government and unions arising from non-implementation of agreement reached, often results in
deadlock that usually disrupts academic calendar (Ogunode, Ugochukwu, & Jegede, 2022;
Odetunde 2004; Ogbondah 2010). As academic activities are suspended for a long period, the
students reading abilities fell. Even the previous knowledge acquired is even forgotten by some
students. This mostly turns some students into certificates seekers than knowledge seekers
(Ogbondah, 2013). Planning activities, supervision activities and administrative activities are
suspended during strike action (Edinyang, & Ubi, 2013; Uzoh. 2017). There are a lot of reasons
for the strike actions in Nigeria. According to (Dekiewiet 2009) who stated that fundamental to
grievance leading to strikes include the common purpose of labour to protest its interest, all bars
which block practically all opportunities of promotion. Also the insensitivity of management to
students‟ grievances cause strike actions in institutions of higher learning. Of a truth,
management past often forgets their vows. An Assistant Lecturer today may rise to become the
Vice Chancellor tomorrow: a junior clerk or messenger may become a Bursar or Registrar of the
institution tomorrow. Also, unnecessary interference by governments on campus politics and life
as well as adverse government policy decisions on tertiary institutions have been revealed by the
work as causes of strike actions. No wonder the agitations for university autonomy and freedom.
Brain-Drain
Brain-drain in the universities has affected smooth university administration because it has
caused shortage of academic staff in the system. For an effective university administration to
occur there is need for adequate academic and non-academic staff in the system. The absent of
the right qualities and quantities of staff will definitely affects teaching and learning programme
which is one of the cardinal assignment of the university administration. Ogunode (2020) posited
that brain-drain is a major challenge to an effective university administration in Nigeria. Brain-
drain refers to the movement of professionals from developing countries to developed countries
for a better job offers (Ogunode & Atobauka, 2021). Brain-drain is a situation whereby
professional individuals are migrating from their countries to another country to seek greener
pasture. Many lecturers and researchers are leaving public universities in Nigeria to other part of
African countries and Europe for a better job offer and conducive working environment
(Ogunode 2020). (Ogunode, Ugochukwu, & Jegede 2022) acknowledged that many lecturers and
researchers are leaving the Nigerian university system every year due to poor welfare packages
and unstable academic calendar. Factors responsible for Brain-drain in Nigerian public
universities (Ogunode 2020; Ogunode & Atobauka, 2021) include; poor motivation, an
unconducive working environment, insecurity, underfunding and political interferences. The
implication of brain drain in the Nigerian public universities includes; a shortage of lecturers,
poor quality of education and a high student-teacher ratio.
Corruption
Corruption in the administration of universities have hampered and frustrated the administration
of universities in Nigeria. Funds allocated for infrastructural facilities development that ought to
have been deployed to support the curriculum implementation are looted or diverted (Chuta,
2004; Dawood, 2012; Ogunode, 2020). In 2018, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project claimed that there were allegations of corruption in several federal universities relating to
the unfair allocation of grades; contract inflation; truncation of staff‟s salary on the payroll;
employment of unqualified staff; certificate scandal; examination malpractice; sexual
harassment; and issuance of results for expelled students to graduate. (Saharareporters 2017)
submitted that the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources
(FUPRE) in Effurun, Delta State, was arrested alongside other top management staff at the
institution over an N300 million fraud scandal, Sahara Reporters quoted a senior lecturer at the
institution that said corruption and fraud “run in the DNA of the Vice Chancellor,” adding that
since the fraud was uncovered, and other top management staff have been “running from pillar to
post.” According to the management staff of the institution, the scandal involves the N300
million National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment fund
granted to the institution. Rather than use the fund to finance building projects, it was diverted by
one of the admin and other staff of the university. “The NEEDS assessment fund was intended
for the building of structures in the school, but this was not done,” the source said. “Over N300
million was diverted by the VC and his gang. Instead of using the money for the purpose, it was
meant for. (Ogunode, Josiah, & Ajape 2021) identified the following as the reasons for high
financial corruption in the public universities in Nigeria: corrupt school administrators, lecturers
and students; weak monitoring and evaluation system; weak trade unions; political interference;
weak educational system; and poor accountability system. Also, (Ogunode, Ohunene &
Olatunde-Aiyedun (2022) concluded the implication of financial corruption on the public
universities in Nigeria including a reduction in the volume of funds, inadequate facilities,
shortage of staff, poor quality of university education, poor academic programme accreditation
status, strike actions, and bad international image. .
Policy Instability
Policy instability has affected university administration in Nigeria. In Nigeria educational
policies are always subjected to changes including the universities. Policy instability has affected
the development of the universities. (Ogunode, Akinyode, & Ayoko 2023) defined policy
instability as a constant change in educational policies as a result of changes in government. It is
the variation in the educational policies of a country. Educational policy instability is the change
in educational policies, in the entire educational system or sub-system. Each government
rationalized the policy on education on its own accord. Policies instability is part and parcel of
the Nigerian education system. (NOUN 2010) asserted that the educational system in Nigeria has
witnessed various policy enactments and plans. Unfortunately, many of them never saw the light
of the day. In a few cases, they are implemented, but not full implementation. Many end up on
the papers either as a blueprint or white paper. Many well-intended policies in the past were
aborted in the course of implementation. This was common during military rule when the polity
was very unstable due to coups and counter-coups. A new regime of rulers always failed to
sustain the implementation of the educational policies and programmes of their predecessors.
The instability of governance did a lot of havoc in this regard for a long time in the country.
(Ogunode, Akinyode, & Ayoko 2023; Odukoya, Bowale, & Okunlola, 2018;Manafa, 2011;
Martins2005) identified reasons for policy instability in the Nigerian educational sector to
include; capital-intensive implementation plan, poor consultation, change in government, poor

coordination and co-operations, the appointment of Non-professionals as heads of educational
institutions, changes in educational system and practices and poor formulation of educational
policies. They also concluded that the effects of the instability of educational policies in Nigeria.
Some of the implications include; wastage of educational resources, low space of development in
education and increased in administrative and management expenditure
Conclusion and Recommendations
University education in Nigeria is very critical to the socio-economic and technological
advancement. One of the objectives of the university education is manpower development and
production. The realization of the university education depends on effective university
administration. This paper discussed the problems facing university administration in Nigeria.
The paper concluded that poor funding, shortage of infrastructure facilities, shortage of academic
staff, lack of autonomy, integration of the universities into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System (IPPIS), inadequate current data, political influence, weak universities‟
Administrators, insecurity, strikes actions, Brain-drain, corruption and policy instability are the
problems facing the university administration in Nigeria. Based on these problems, the paper
hereby recommended the following:
1) Increment the funding of universities education;
2) Provide adequate infrastructural facilities to all the public universities;
3) Employ more academic staff in all universities;
4) Government should grant full autonomy to all universities;
5) Government should remove all the universities from Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System (IPPIS);
6) Government should ensure that current data are generated timely in the tertiary institution
especially in the universities;
7) The government should remove their hands from influencing the universities politically;
8) Government should appoint universities administrators base on merit and competencies;
9) Government should address all problems fueling insecurity in Nigeria and ensure adequate
security are provided in all the universities;
10). Ensure agreement reached with different union groups in the public universities are
implemented to avoid strike actions in the public universities; and
11). Motivate all the academic staff by increasing their salaries and welfare packages;
12). Direct all its anti-corruption agencies to monitor all the funds released to the public
universities for implementation of their programme and for capital development;
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International Journal on Integrated Education e-ISSN : 2620 - 3502

p-ISSN : 2615 - 3785

Benefits of Funding Tertiary Education in Nigeria

Niyi Jacob Ogunode

Jethro Abiodun Olowonefa

Keywords: Funding, Community Development, Tertiary Education, Research, Teaching.

Problem of University Administration in Nigeria

include; capital-intensive implementation plan, poor consultation, change in government, poor

and Bassey, U. U. (Eds.) Management of Higher Education in Nigeria. Uyo: Abaam

a. Inaugural lecture series 34. Port Harcourt: Graville Global Concept.

Standards (CCMAS) in North-East, Nigeria Universities. Analytical Journal of

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