Policy Issues in the Administration of Higher Education in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper evaluates policy initiatives in the Nigerian higher educational system with a view to bringing it in line with good practices. Issues of gender, management/governance, teaching, research and funding were discussed. The study revealed that government's funding is insufficient to maintain institutional performance because of the policy stance of non-payment of tuition fees at undergraduate level. It advocates policy reforms that support cost sharing with students but with appropriate mix of scholarships to enable students pay prescribed fees. The paper indicated that participatory governance is appropriate in administering universities because of its capacity to involve relevant stakeholders in decision-making. The paper highlighted that, teaching and research in Nigerian Universities are not responsive to employers' requirements; and new policy initiatives geared towards ameliorating the situation are hampered by shortage of staff, inadequate funding and poor physical facilities. The paper found that gender inequality in higher education is a social problem which has necessitated the creation of centres for mainstreaming gender in the system. The study concluded that for Universities and other higher educational institutions in Nigeria to remain self-reliant, self-steering and able to survive in a competitive world; various higher education policies should be effectively institutionalized and operationalised.

Cost Reduction Techniques in Public Higher Educational Buildings in Southwestern Nigeria: Awareness Among Project Participants

“…The federal and state governments fund public institutions. According to [6], through the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), the federal government contributed about 90% of the funds to universities, while the universities generated the remaining 10%. [3,[14][15][16], noted that the inadequacy of the government to meet HEIs infrastructure facilities demands led to adopting other funding schemes to bridge the gaps.…”

“…This also encourages HEIs to adopt strategies to generate internal revenues to bridge the infrastructure gap. [5,6], noted that HEIs in Nigeria use grants, student fees, support from individual and private firms, business ventures and consultations generated funds to bridge the infrastructures gap. However, the increase in HEIs and economic imbalance has limited the Nigerian government's education sector funding.…”

“…Nonetheless, the delivery of HEBs in Nigeria over decades has improved due to government reforms and intervention within the education sector [3]. The government reforms and intervention programmes within the Nigerian education sector include Universal Primary Education in 1976, Universal Basic Education in 1999, and the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETfund) in 2011.The government reform and intervention programmes aimed at providing funds for infrastructure development and awarding scholarships or grants to enhance staff productivity and quality education delivery in Nigerian institutions [4].The educational building projects have also enjoyed sponsorships through private donors, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and funding from the government utilized in carrying out capital projects [5][6][7]. Over the years, such allocations have improved higher institutions' infrastructure facilities, teaching, research and other ancillary services [3].…”

Cultism Development and Its Sinister Influence in Nigeria Universities

“…Obviously, cultism is said to be the mother of crimes in tertiary institutions, and the phenomenon has negatively affected the image and management of tertiary institutions, the quality of teaching and learning, and the integrity of the Nigeria graduates (Ogbagu, 2013). Nnam (2014) claims that the biggest and most embarrassing problem that Tertiary institutions in Nigeria are facing today is the renewal of the menace and aggressiveness of cult related activities.…”