Addressing Abscondment Problem of Academic Staff from the Nigerian Tertiary Institutions’ Through Effective Motivational Packages
Keywords:
Abscondment, Academic staff, MotivationAbstract
This paper discusses the motivational strategies to address the problem of abscondment among sponsored foreign academic staff from Nigerian tertiary institutions after completing their training abroad. As a position paper, it relies on secondary data collected from both online publications and print resources. The content analysis method was adopted to distill the literature into key themes relevant to the study. The paper identifies several strategies to combat this issue, including increasing salaries and allowances for academic staff, developing infrastructure facilities, providing adequate research grants, granting autonomy to public universities, and ensuring a conducive work environment free from strike actions. Based on these findings, it is recommended that administrators and managers of tertiary institutions in Nigeria increase budgetary allocations for education to formulate motivational packages that will attract and retain academic staff. Furthermore, it is advised that administrators embrace public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure development in these institutions. Additionally, both administrators and the government should increase research funding and establish dedicated departments in each institution to manage research grant programs for internal and foreign sources. Lastly, the government should grant autonomy to all universities to foster competition and innovation within the educational sector.
References
1. Abubakar, S., Soba, N. H & Yusuf, Y. A. (2022) Impacts of motivation on academic staff performance in Nigerian Universities: A study of Bauchi State University Gadau. International Journal of Intellectual Discourse (IJID) 5(2), 27-34
2. Adams, S.O., Zubair, M.A. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2022). Effects of project (infrastructure facilities) abandonment in public tertiary education in Nigeria and the way forward (EGNES), 1(2), 41-46. https://doi.org/10.26480/egnes.02.2022.41.48
3. Adelem, P. (2023). University lecturers and their poor salaries.
https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2023/11/29/university-lecturers-and-their-poor-salaries/
4. Aiyedun, E.A., Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. & Ogunode, N.J. (2021). Factors hindering the progress of Nigerian universities in the global ranking of universities. International Journal of Development and Public Policy, 1(6), 183–187.http://openaccessjournals.eu/index.php/ijdpp/article/view/706
5. Alemu S.K. (2018). Meaning, idea and history of university/higher education in Africa: A brief literature review. Forum for International Research in Education. 4 (3), 210-227
6. Allschool (2024) I thought I was patriotic,’ PhD graduate regrets leaving UK to earn N250k in Nigeria. Read More: https://allschool.ng/i-thought-i-was-patriotic-phd-graduate-regrets-leaving-uk-to-earn-n250k-in-nigeria/
7. Amazingtime (2021). TETFUND decry cases of abscondment among lecturers sponsored to study abroad.https://amazingtimesng.com/tetfund-decries-cases-of-abscondment-among-lecturers-sponsored-to-study-abroad/
8. Azenabor, G. (2022) the question of university autonomy in Nigeria. https://guardian.ng/opinion/the-question-of-university-autonomy-in-nigeria/
9. Charles, J. (2023). Lecturers on TETFund foreign scholarship absconding, ES laments. https://punchng.com/lecturers-on-tetfund-foreign-scholarship-absconding-es-laments/#google_vignette.
10. Chiemeka-Unogu, C. M. (2020). Effective leadership and motivation of university employees in Nigeria. International Journal of Institutional Leadership, Policy and Management, 2(3), 498-505.
11. Durotolu, A. O. (2000). Administrative environment as a factor of academic staff performance in College of Education in Kwara State, Nigeria. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
12. Edema, G (2024). 50% of students sponsored abroad don’t want to return – TETFUND secretary. https://punchng.com/50-of-students-sponsored-abroad-dont-want-to-return-tetfund-secretary/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web
13. Echono, S.T. (2023) Funding research in a developing economy. Text of 21st convocation lecture of the Nigerian defence academy in honour of graduating cadets of 70 regular course and postgraduate students delivered on Thursday 14th September 2023
14. Echono, S.T. (n.d). Education, research and human development in Nigeria: the challenges and missing link.
15. Echono, S. T. (2022). Funding public tertiary education: roles of tertiary education trust fund (TETFund) and its future for sustainable development. A paper presented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)-at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Alumni Lecture October 2022.
16. Ezenkiri, N. J., Hamisu. M, Ugoma, D. E. & Francis, T. T (2021). Academic job: a review on stressors among teaching-staff of tertiary institutions. SER, 20(1 & 2), 1-11
17. ESUT Monitor (2024). TetFund Threatens To Suspend Foreign Scholarships After 137 Sponsored Lecturers Absconded. https://esutmonitor.com/2024/10/28/tetfund-threatens-to-suspend-foreign-scholarships-after-137-sponsored-lecturers-absconded/
18. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2013). National policy on education. 4th ed. Lagos: Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.
19. Ifeyinwa F. M. &Okemute, I. M. (2023). Anambra State tertiary institutions: a call for urgent re-forms. ChukwuemekaOdumegwuOjukwu University Journal of Arts and Social Science Edu-cation (COOUJOASSE), 3(1), 1-10
20. Josiah, H. F., Audu, B.C. & Ogunode, N. J. (2023). Motivational strategies and teachers’ job performance in Post- Basic Education and Career Development (PBECD), Nigeria. International Journal on Integrated Education, 6(7), 22-31.
21. Kohun, S. (1992). Business environment. Ibadan: University Press Kyko OC (2005). Instrumentation: Know yourself and others Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2003) 3rd editions: Harloa Pearson Educational Limited.
22. Kaka (2020) what is absconding? https://www.keka.com/glossary/absconding
23. Kong-kola G. B (2020) IPPIS and the future of public universities
https://guardian.ng/opinion/letters/ippis-and-the-future-of-public-universities/
24. Lawan, A & Ogunode N. J. (2021). Strike actions in Nigerian higher institutions: Meaning, causes, effects, achievement and way forward. Scholarly Publishing discourse, 1(1), 1-30.
25. Lawal, I. (2023). Between dwindling tertiary education funding and flickering PPP initiatives. https://guardian.ng/features/between-dwindling-tertiary-education-funding-and-
26. Lawal, I. (2023a). Public-private partnership as panacea to dwindling tertiary education funding. https://guardian.ng/features/public-private-partnership-as-panacea-to-dwindling-tertiary- education-funding-2/
27. Mark, J. Y. (2019). Adoption of Public Private Partnership in addressing educational problems in Nigeria. Journal of Social Science Education, 2(5).12-19
28. Mohammed, I. A., Olatunde-Aiyedun, T. G., & Bello, A. (2024). Distance learning lecturers’ awareness and readiness towards open educational resources. Computers and Children, 3(1), em006. https://doi.org/10.29333/cac/15209
29. NOUN (2009) Issues and Problems of Higher Education in Nigeria. Lagos.
30. Ogunode1, N.J & Abayomi A, R. (3023). Perception of academic staff on reasons for abscondment of sponsored government scholars from Nigerian tertiary education. International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration 1(1), 25-30
31. Ogunode, N.J., Audu, E.I. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2022). Community service programme of Nigerian public tertiary institutions: problems and way forward. Spanish Journal of Innovation and Integrity, 5, 1-9. http://sjii.indexedresearch.org/index.php/sjii/article/view/64
32. Ogunode, N. J., Cletus, N. A., & Christiana, U. (2024). Japa’ syndrome in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Excellencia: International Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Education, 2(1), 216-228. https://doi.org/10.5281/
33. Ogunode, N. J., Edinoh, K., & Okolie, R. C. (2023). Public-private partnership model and implementation of tertiary education Programme in Nigeria. AMERICAN Journal of Science on Integration and Human Development, 01 (06), 1-12
34. Ogunode, N. J. & Gregory D. M (2023). Challenges hindering academic staff in Nigerian tertiary education from securing local and international grants: A descriptive study. Indonesian Journal of Innovation Studies, 25.
35. Ogunode, N.J., Jegede, D., Adah, S., Audu, E.I. & Ajape, T.S. (2020) Administration of Research Programme in Nigerian Public Universities: Problems and Way Forward.Riwayat: Educational Journal of History and Humanities, 3(2), 21-32
36. Ogunode N.J., Jegede & Musa, A. (2021) Problems facing academic staff of Nigerian Universities and the way forward. International Journal on Integrated Education, (4), 230-239.
37. Ogunode, N.J., Jegede, D., Olamoyegun, S.O., Akinjobi, F.N. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2022). Effects of project (infrastructure facilities) abandonment in public tertiary education in Nigeria and the way forward. http://erjbehaviouralsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/3.-effects-of-project.pdf
38. Ogunode, N. J. & Ibrahim, U., K (2023). Analysis of factors militating against autonomy in public universities in Nigeria. International Journal on Integrated Education 6(4), 166-174
39. Ogunode N.J, Kasimu, S. & Dahiru, S. (2023). Analysis of reasons for abscondment of sponsored academic staff. AMERICAN Journal of Public Diplomacy and International Studies, 01(07), 1-12.
40. Ogunode, N. J. & Musa L (2024).Entrepreneurial education programme in tertiary education in Nigeria.
41. Ogunode, N. J., & Obiakor, M. I. (2023). Exploring Public Private Partnership Models for Funding of Universities in Nigeria. International Journal on Economics, Finance and Sustainable Development, 5(10), 42-50.
42. Ogunode, N. J., & Odo, R. C. (2023). Social problems in tertiary institutions. Web of Semantic: Universal Journal on Innovative Education 2(7), 117-124
43. Ogunode, N.J., Ohunene, L.A. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2022). Review of factors responsible for high rate of financial corruption in public universities in Nigeria. Central Asian Journal of Social Sciences and History, 3(7), 30-44.
https://cajssh.centralasianstudies.org/index.php/CAJSSH/article/view/393
44. Ogunode, N.J., Okwelogu, I.S. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2021). Challenges and problems of deployment of ICT facilities by public higher institutions during Covid-19 in Nigeria. International Journal of Discoveries and Innovations in Applied Sciences, 1(4), 30–37. Retrieved from http://openaccessjournals.eu/index.php/ijdias/article/view/213
45. Ogunode, N. J., Salman, A. A. & Ayoko, V. O (2023). Motivation, non-academic staff’ job performance and tertiary education in Nigeria. Electronic Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 5(3), 20-32
46. Ogunode, N.J., Somadina, O.I., Yahaya, D.M. & Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G. (2021). Deployment of ICT facilities by Post-Basic Education and Career Development (PBECD) during Covid-19 in Nigeria: Challenges and way forward. International Journal of Discoveries and Innovations in Applied Sciences, 1(5), 19–25. Retrieved from http://openaccessjournals.eu/index.php/ijdias/article/view/280
47. Ogunode. N, J. Ugochukwu, U. C & Iroegbu, A. I (2022). Internationalization of Nigerian higher education: problems and way forward. The Spanish Journal of Innovation and Integrity, (6), 202-213.
48. Ogunode, N. J., Ukozor, C.U. & Agbo. R.C. (2024). Staff training and academics job performance in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Integrity and Curriculum Development, 1(1), 69–75. https://academicajournal.com/IJAICD/article/view/18
49. Ohiare Udebu, M. F. Sarafadeen, R. O. & Abashi, L. E. (2022). Funding of higher education in Nigeria: challenges and way forward. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Development: Problems, Analysis and Prospects.
50. Ojo, J. (2022). Unwise proliferation of tertiary institutions in Nigeria https://punchng.com/unwise-prolifer-ation-of-tertiary-institutions-in-nigeria/
51. Okai, N. O. & Botimi-Slaboh A. S. (2019). Managing tertiary education in a depressed economy. Journal of Social & Policy Research, 6(2), 187-196.
52. Okolie, P. (2023). Research funding in public organizations in Nigeria: General overview. Being fa paper presented at The Local Government Services Commission Enugu from 14th to 15th March, 2023.
53. Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G., Chakraborty, T. & Mishra, N. (2024). Women in science education in the 21st century with special reference to Nigeria. In T. Chakraborty, N. Mishra, D. Kumari, A. Natarajan, & S. Ray (Eds.), Gender equality: An international perspective (pp. 57-73). Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
54. Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G., Daniels, A.A. & Olamoyegun, O.S. (2024). Role of digital technologies in enhancing environmental geography education: case studies from community garden projects. CUSTECH International Journal of Education, 1(1), 108-121.
https://custechijoe.org.ng/index.php/custechijoe/article/view/18/13
55. Olatunde-Aiyedun, T.G., Ojelade, I.A. & Aregbesola, B.G. (2024). AI training in science education for educational entrepreneurship. Journal of Innovation in Educational and Social Research, 2(8), 1-12. https://journals.proindex.uz/index.php/jiesr/article/view/1432/1264
56. Ollukkaran. BA, Gunaseelan R (2012). A study on the impact of work environment on employee performance. Namex International Journal of Management Research, 2(2), 71- 85.
57. Oludotun, O. (2023). Nigerians and the japa syndrome. https://punchng.com/nigerians-and-the-japa-syndrome/
58. Oludayo, T, (2021). Greedy’ Nigerian professors and their fat salaries.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/greedy-nigerian-professors-and-their-fatsalaries/
59. Omale, S. A., Ojo, S. S., Ibrahim, M.G. & Yusufu, S. O. (2023). Factors affecting motivation and employee performance among Nigerian universities academic staff. Eurasian Journal of Management & Social Sciences, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.23918/ejmss.V4i1p28
60. Oyeniran, A. (2023). Japa Wave: University administrators panic over exodus of academics. https://independent.ng/japa-wave-university-administrators-panic-over-exodus-of-academics/
61. Roy-Omonigho, S. (2023). Poor remuneration, effects on university lecturers in Nigeria. https://guard-ian.ng/opinion/poor-remuneration-effects-on-university-lecturers-in-nigeria/
62. Schrader-King, K. (2024). Tertiary Education. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/tertiaryeducation
63. Tolu-Kolawole, D. (2023). Funding crisis weighs down public varsities, politicians float new institutions https://punchng.com/funding-crisis-weighs-down-public-varsities-politicians-float-new-insti-tutions/
64. Tomori, S. (2022). Huge strike at Nigeria’s universities is disrupting research.
65. Usman, I.S., Orji, N.O. & Fasanya, A.G. (2019). Refocusing physics teachers' preparation: Needs and reforms in Nigeria education system. Basics in Quality Teacher Preparation, pg. 184-194.
66. VMT (2024). To check absconding teachers and salvage education sector. https://vmtnews.ng/to-check-absconding-teachers-and-salvage-education-sector/
67. Waheed, A. (2023). ASUU Laments Exodus of Lecturers from Public Varsities. https://leadership.ng/asuu-laments-exodus-of-lecturers-from-public-varsities/?utm_source
68. Yahaya, M.A., Jamari, A.A., Mustapha, B, Abubakar, A. & Inuwa, M.M. (2019). Factors motivating academic staff: a case study of Gombe State University, Nigeria. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Review, 4(3), 113-139.
