Effects of Constituency Allowances on Tertiary Education (NCE Programmes) Development in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

The development of tertiary education, particularly Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes, is critical for addressing the growing demand for qualified teachers in Nigeria. However, North-Central Nigeria faces numerous challenges that hinder the growth and effectiveness of these programmes. Constituency allowances, allocated to legislators for community development projects, have been touted as a potential mechanism for addressing some of these shortfalls within tertiary institutions. This study therefore investigated the Effects of Constituency Allowances on Tertiary Education (NCE Programmes) Development in North-Central Nigeria. The research employed survey research design with 150 sampled populations. A structured questionnaire was administered on the respondents to gather data which were analyzed using ANOVA and Cramer's v statistics. The Institutional and Resource Dependency theories were adopted as theoretical framework for the study. From the research findings, it is established that, although legislators expend constituency funds for the development of tertiary education particularly NCE programmes in North-Central Nigeria, dispensation of such funds is challenged by inefficiency, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and lack of accountability. The study concludes that the judicious utilization of constituency allowances has the potential to enhance academic infrastructure, increase student enrolment, and improve the quality of teachers’ education in North-Central Nigeria. The study therefore recommends amongst others that accountability mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that constituency allowances are effectively utilized for tertiary education development.