CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR ACADEMIC STAFF AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA UNIVERSITIES

A STUDY OF EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The persistence decline in sound and quality of teaching has been the bane of Nigerian universities. This paper investigated the effect of Ebonyi State University (EBSU)'s Conditions of Service on the academic staff. The paper was a bold attempt to find out the extent to which lecturers' remuneration affect quality teaching in EBSU, and; to ascertain how the current assessment and promotion criteria affect the performance of lecturers in EBSU. Content analytical technique was used to review secondary literature relevant to the study and it was collaborated with oral interview. Frustration-Aggression Theory of conflict was adopted as the theoretical framework and findings revealed that: the current monthly salaries of EBSU academic staff which are described as meager; stringent appraisal/assessment criteria, among others, have negatively affected the efficiency and quality services by EBSU lecturers. The implication is that the nation's and/or state's quest for quality education will continue to be a mirage if nothing urgent was done. The paper concludes that both the government and EBSU Management have not done much to improve the conditions of service for academic staff, and recommended for upward review of lecturers' monthly salaries in line with the current economic realities and a review of the current assessment criteria in line with the Nigerian environment, among others.