Determinant of Performance Efficiency in Non-Profit Organizations: Evidence from Nigerian Federal Universities

Abstract

This study measured the performance efficiency of Nigerian non-profit making organizations with emphasis on federal universities and showed how some factors such as university funding, university assessment and ranking, university size, university technology status and university age are related to the performance efficiency of Nigerian federal universities. Data were collected from the National Universities Commission. Seventeen (17) federal universities out of a total of thirty-seven (37) were used in this study and there were selected based on their similarity of operations. The time frame for the study was 2006 – 2010. Regression results showed that funding, assessment and ranking, size and technology application were statistically but not significant in affecting the performance efficiency of non-profit making organizations in Nigeria. But, age was statistically significant in impacting the performance of federal universities in Nigeria. Finally, the study recommended that there is need for increased funding and monitoring of utilization of funds in federal universities, improved technology applications and infrastructural development in large and older universities in Nigeria, so as to improve their performance efficiency

Keywords: Non-profit organizations; Efficiency;Federal Universities