Political and Institutional Factors in the Funding of Higher Education in Nigeria

Abstract

The demand for higher education all over the world is on the increase as the expectations of every recipient of higher education is to acquire knowledge needed for a meaningful and better life in all aspects. Stagnant economy and increasing global inequalities have reduced governments and households’ educational financial resources, and in Africa the challenge is severe. This increasing demand for higher education has generated a lot of pressures leading to concerns and debates on how the sector should be funded and who does the funding. In Nigeria, for example, one of such concerns is that public universities have been closed down since February 2022 due to an industrial action embarked on by members of academic staff under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over issues of funding of universities. It is of concern that the budgetary allocation to education in Nigeria in the past seven years has been less than eight percent while a chunk of the budget goes to the political class which unfortunately the spending cannot be accounted for.  This study interrogated the political and institutional factors associated with the funding of higher education in Nigeria.  The study adopted social justice approach to the access and funding of higher education in the country. Using the social justice framework, this study investigated the political and institutional interplay influencing the funding structure in universities in Nigeria. The study, through a critique of the current form of capitalist political system in Nigeria advanced the system of social democracy, a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means and the collective good of all and not just a few which is obtainable in the current capitalist system in place.  The study contributed to the existing body of knowledge by advancing a realistic, sustainable but equitable funding model (s) of higher education in Nigeria.

Keywords: Higher Education, Funding, Politics, Institutions, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-18-10

Publication date:June 30^th 2023