Performance Efficiency Measurement In The Nigerian Public Sector: The Federal Universities Dilemma

Abstract

Concerned by an apparent lack of positive correlationship between investments in federal universities in Nigeria and return on such investments, this study was undertaken. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used as an instrument for measuring the performance efficiency of selected broad-based federal universities. Having identified gaps in earlier studies, this study used data from the National Universities Commission (NUC), the main regulatory body of universities in Nigeria. Results reveal that only four (4) (23.5%) of the 17 federal universities studied can be adjudged as performing efficiently in term of input and output phenomenon. These universities include universities of Maiduguri and Abuja as well as Bayero university, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe university Awka. These universities are therefore proposed as benchmarks for other universities in terms of performance efficiency. At the same time, the DEA has again proved to be a useful instrument in the measurement of performance efficiency of institutions.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p838