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ABSTRACT

This study anchored on the impediments to effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu state. The study employed a descriptive survey design. Four research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study comprised all the 15 deans and 74 HODs of public tertiary institutions in the area of the study. No sample was used due to the small  size  of  the  population.  Questionnaire  titled  Impediments to  Effective Utilization of Funds in Tertiary Institutions Questionnaire (IEUFTI) was used as instrument  for  data  collection.  Mean  and  Standard  Deviation  were  used  to answer the research questions, while t-test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study among others showed that inadequate allocation of funds to education sector impedes to a great extent the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institution. However, the finding of the study further revealed that misappropriation of funds impedes the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions to a low extent. The study among  others  recommended  that  the  various  state  and  federal  government should provide enough funds for education. Heads of tertiary institutions should not mismanage or embezzle funds entrusted into their care. Federal and state ministries of education, parastatals and their agencies should ensure that there are adequate information and accurate statistical data in their offices.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Education obtained at any level is a weapon against poverty and ignorance. It is a vehicle for the development of a nation. It is equally an instrument per excellence for effecting national development. In the words of Okeke (2007), education is now in forefront of the state. The public has great concern and interest in education. Education has been perceived by people and government  as  a  potent  means  to  ensure  the  welfare  of  the people.

According to Ocho (2005), the ability of a nation to grow and develop depends on the quality and emphasis in its educational system, not on the amount of natural wealth such as minerals, arable land, forestry and sea products available in the country.  Consequently,  there  is  considerable  growth  in  the volume of educational activity to the point where education today is one of the largest industries in virtually all the countries. In Nigeria,  it  is  the  chief  employer  of  highly  skilled  personnel

(Peretemode, 1995).

1

The education system in most nations today – both developing and developed is organized into primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The tertiary level is otherwise known as higher education. Tertiary education relates to all forms of post- secondary education such as the Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges  of Education,  Monotechnics  and  Professional schools (Abdu,  2003).  According  to  Odo,  Ede  and  Ezike  (2000),  it comprises College of education, Polytechnics, Universities and, indeed, all categories of educational institutions. The Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004) in her National Policy on Education, tertiary   education   is   the   education   given   after   secondary education in universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, monotechnics,  including  those  institutions  offering correspondence courses.

The goals of tertiary education according to F.R.N., (2004)

shall be to:

“contribute  to  national  development  through  high level relevant manpower training; develop and inculcate proper values for the survival of the individual and society; develop the intellectual capability of individuals to understand and appreciate their local and external environments; acquire both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to be self-reliant and useful members of the society; promote and encourage scholarship   and   community   service;   forge   and cement national  unity;  and  promote  national  and international understanding and interaction” (p:24).

Tertiary  institutions  in  Nigeria  (Universities,  Polytechnics and Colleges of Education) produce middle and high level manpower needed for the overall growth and development of the country. Right from the establishment of the first institution of higher learning in Nigeria (Yaba College of Technology), the government  has  been  playing  the  role  of  a  proprietor  and invariably provided funds for running the institution (Familoni,

2002).

Fund involves the money which is available to individuals, government or organizations for spending on various economic activities (Enyi, 2011). Education utilizes large amount of a country’s  available  resources and one  of the  resources which education  utilizes  a  great  deal  is  fund  and  this  is  a  very important input on which the success of any school system depends. This view is especially true because fund provides the essential purchasing power with which education acquires its human and physical inputs (Coombs, 1998).

There  is  a  growing  concern  about  the  funding  of  the Nigerian educational system, especially in tertiary institutions, which according to Okon (2004), is not only an investment in human capital, but also a pre-requisite as well as correlated to

economic development. Undoubtedly, the control and funding of tertiary institutions are of vital interest and concern to the people and government. This is because one who controls the operations and funding of the tertiary institutions in a state or nation is deemed to be directing the thinking and destiny of the people (Okeke, 2007).

However, since last few decades or so, Nigeria has witnessed increased  decline  in  the  funding  of  education,  especially  in tertiary   institutions   (Nwosu,   1997).   In   Nigerian   tertiary institutions   especially   in   Enugu   State,   there   have   been complaints about the ineffective utilization of funds. In most of the tertiary institutions, not a day passes without some media report on fund misappropriation and other issues reflecting the unsatisfactory state of schools by the Head of schools, the Dean of Faculties and the Head of Departments.

Babalola, Ayeni, Adedeji, Suleiman and Arikewuyo (2006) lamented  on  the  falling  standard  of  tertiary  education,  poor quality of teaching and learning in schools, the huge student- teacher ratio and large classes, the frustrations of the little and late paid staff, the agonies about the indifference of parents who are more interested in chasing contracts than in seeing to the

educational welfare of their children, absence of suitable libraries and laboratories equipment, and the existence of inexperienced and uncommitted staff.  If  there  observation is  true,  then  the situation is capable of leading tertiary education to a deep state of comatose, while the attainment of National Policy on Education goals could be at the lowest ebb.

To achieve qualitative education in tertiary institutions however does not come by chance. The success or failure, growth or decline of any level of education depends, to an appreciable extent, on effective utilization of funds in schools. If Nigeria is to actively participate in the globalized society, her educational system must be properly funded and effectively utilized (Ozochi,

2009). In educational system, effectively utilized fund means how successful the school administrator has make judicious use of educational  financial resources to attain goals and objectives, and it is measured by the administrator’s flair in development and implementation of educational programmes of the school, procurement  of  staff,  provision  of facilities,  keeping  of school records including records of school fund as well as creating a conducive teaching and learning atmosphere in school.

It has been identified that many factors have been observed as impediments to effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions among which inadequate allocation of funds to education   sector   has   been   found   to   be   consequential. Impediment means something that delays or stops the progress of something (Hornby, 2010). According to Mgbodile (2003), Federal and State Ministries of Education, their parastatals, commissions and boards usually receive inadequate allocation of funds to the education sector. Continuing, he asserts that most tertiary institutions in  Nigeria have been inadequately funded and this has led to the emergence of several problems that adversely affect the system. These include non-maintenance of existing buildings and other infrastructural facilities, low remuneration of staff leading to strike actions and brain drain, inadequate instructional materials for lecturers and students, inability to stock the libraries with current books and lack of incentive to conduct research.

These problems need to be addressed and check-mated so as  to  ensure  functional  and  virile  tertiary  institutions.  Some other tertiary institutions do not have enough fund to procure science  and  laboratory  equipment,  computer  equipment  and

accessories, medical and engineering equipment. Holding of workshops,  seminars  and  conferences  is  almost  not  feasible taken into cognizance inadequate amount allocated to the education sector.

When  discussing  impediments  to  effective  utilization  of funds in tertiary institutions, inaccurate statistical data should be borne in mind as well. Inaccurate statistical data has become a preponderant issue in virtually all the levels of education in Nigeria, especially in tertiary institutions. Wrong information and wrong  figures  make  it  difficult  to  plan  educational  funds efficiently and effectively. According to Mgbodile (2003), some heads of schools are in the habit of supplying wrong data to the Ministry of Education. Many give wrong information on the number of staff and students in their schools in order to attract higher allocation. This dubious act often creates confusion in the entire system and even makes government to be suspicious and unwilling in funding higher institutions.

Misappropriation of funds in the education sector is another factor to consider among the impediments to effective utilization of  funds  in  tertiary  institutions.  This  is  because  fund  is  an integral aspect of management and the efficiency with which an

organization can perform depends, to a large extent, on how its financial resources can be utilized. In the words of Ogbonnaya (2004), some vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities embezzle housing and car loan meant for academic and non-academic staff of their institutions. Some pay staff salaries with funds meant for the procurement of science and laboratory equipment. Above all, there are cases where some vice-chancellors use funds meant for the payment of pensions to retired staff for other needs. All these financial irregularities in education sector hamper effective fund utilization in tertiary institutions.

Consequently, this study aims at investigating the extent to which the aforementioned factors i.e., inadequate allocation of funds to the education sector; inaccurate statistical data; and misappropriation of fund impede efficient utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State with a view to making recommendation on the more effective ways of improving utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in the state.

Statement of the Problem

In Nigerian tertiary institutions, especially in Enugu State, there have been complaints about the ineffective utilization of the funds.  In  most  of  the  tertiary  institutions,  not  a  day  passes

without some media report on fund misappropriation and other issues reflecting the unsatisfactory state of schools by the Heads of schools, the Deans of Faculties and the Heads of Departments.

Consequently, there is a growing concern by all the stakeholders in education about the falling standard of tertiary education, poor quality of teaching and learning in such schools, the huge student-teacher ratio and large classes there, the frustrations of the little and late paid staff, absence of adequately equipped libraries and laboratories equipment, and the existence of  inexperienced  and  uncommitted  lecturers.  All  these vicissitudes are evidence of decay in the educational system. It has been identified that many factors contribute to the falling standard of tertiary education among which is ineffective utilization of funds has been found to be consequential to guarantee to poor quality in tertiary institutions.

Therefore, the problem of this study, posed as a question is: to what extent do some factors affect the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State?

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impediments   to   effective   utilization   of   funds   in   tertiary

institutions in Enugu State. Specifically, the   objectives of the study are to:

1.      determine the extent to which inadequate allocation of fund to education sector impedes the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State.

2.      find  out  the  extent  to  which  inaccurate  statistical  data hinders the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State.

3.      ascertain  the  extent  to  which  misappropriation  of  funds impedes the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State.

4.      find out strategies for effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State.

Significance of the Study

This study has both theoretical and practical significance. The theoretical significance is hinged on the systems theory, as well as the human relations theory. The systems theory emphasizes that task achievement in a social system, irrespective of  the  nature  of  the  task  requires  the  combined  effort  of  a number  of  people  with varying functions  and  responsibilities,

whose positions establish the relationships between the superior and the subordinates. Human relations theory, which is also part of this work, emphasizes that workers will participate actively in the attainment of organizational objectives, if workers’ interest and welfare are recognized and considered. This theory will enlighten the heads of tertiary institutions to encourage, support and treat their staff humanely, thereby making staff to put in their best in carrying out their tasks which in turn improve the standard of education and make the national goals on tertiary education better achieved.

On the practical aspect, the findings of this study will be of immense benefit to stakeholders in education such as Heads of Tertiary Institutions, the Deans of Faculties and the Heads of Departments, Educational Planners and Policy Makers, and researchers. If the findings are implemented, it will serve as a catalyst for a effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions. Specifically, this study will be of benefit to heads of tertiary institutions. The findings of this work will be a wake-up call to them on their mandate, and serve as a mirror for self-evaluation to enable them know whether they are delivering in their core financial responsibilities or not.

Both the Deans of Faculties and the Heads of Departments will find the study useful as it will make them to understand and appreciate the role of interrelationship in their schools. Therefore, it will provide them with information on the need for maintaining cordial relationship and working co-operatively with the diverse constituencies associated with the school.

Equally, educational planners and policy makers such as Educational Consultants, and Educational Committees in legislative houses will benefit from the finding of this study. It will make them to have insight into the diverse impediments in the school system that have been hindering financial management and policy failures, and aid them in finding a lasting solution to them. Finally, the findings of this study are bound to stimulate more research interest in this area.

Scope of the Study

This study was carried out in tertiary institutions in Enugu State. Particularly, the study is delimited to all the public Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Monotechnics in Enugu State. The study concentrated on the impediments   to   effective   utilization   of   funds   in   tertiary institutions in Enugu State, and it paid particular attention on

inadequate allocation of funds to the education sector; extent inaccurate  statistical data  hinders  utilization of  funds;  extent misappropriation of funds impedes utilization of funds; and strategies for effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions in Enugu State.

Research Questions

The following research questions guided this study:

1.      To  what  extent  does  inadequate  allocation  of  fund  to education sector impede the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions?

2.      To what extent does inaccurate statistical data hinder the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions?

3.      To what extent does misappropriation of funds impede the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions?

4.      What are the strategies for effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions?

Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were tested at 0.05 level of significance.

Ho1:  There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of  the Deans of Faculties and the Head of Departments with

regard to the extent to which inadequate allocation of fund to the education  sector  impede  the  effective  utilization  of  funds  in tertiary institution.

Ho2: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of  the Deans of Faculties and the Head of Departments with regard to the extent to which inaccurate statistical data hinder the effective utilization of funds in tertiary institutions.


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IMPEDIMENTS TO EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF FUNDS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN ENUGU STATE

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