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. 

 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.