FUNDING PUBLIC HIGHER INSTITUTIONS FOR GOAL ATTAINMENT IN BAYELSA STATE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This study examined the challenges and prospects of funding public higher institutions and goal attainment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Results obtained revealed that there are numerous challenges facing funding of higher education institutions in the State ranging from the high number of state-owned higher institutions to budgetary allocation, implementation of subvention policy, other competing government programmes as well as the extent to which funding sources, mode of fund allocation and utilization of funding; affects goal attainment in tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State. However, measures already taken by the State government indicates improved funding of tertiary institutions in the State. The work adopted descriptive and analytical research techniques and thus relied on secondary data for analysis of the issues raised in the study. It was recommended that tertiary institution managers or
institutional leadership should establish viable sources of funding in order to boost their financial base other than over depending on government, this would lift them relatively out of poor budgetary allocation or subventions from government as well work against
misappropriation, embrace proper utilization of funds through an internal control mechanism; this would enable them attain their stipulated goals.